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By CALUM CROWE Published: 01: 55 AEST, 13 September 2025 | Updated: 01: 55 AEST, 13 September 2025 View comments Rangers boss Russell Martin has confirmed that Nico Raskin’s exclusion from the first-team squad will continue for Saturday's clash with Hearts at Ibrox. Raskin was controversially axed for the Old Firm clash with Celtic a fortnight ago and has not been a regular since Martin took charge. The pair have had a strained relationship over the first few weeks of the new season, with Martin revealing last month that Raskin’s head had been turned by interest from elsewhere and talk of a big-money move. It had been expected that Raskin could leave Rangers but, despite a couple of tentative offers on deadline day, the club held on to their prized asset. But despite holding talks with the Belgium midfielder earlier this week following his return from international duty, Martin has told Raskin he needs to earn the trust of his team-mates. Confirming the player is back in training but that his exile from the matchday squad will continue for now, Martin said: ‘He won’t be in the squad tomorrow. Nico Raskin was dropped from the Rangers squad ahead of the Old Firm match two weeks ago Make your 7 picks by 12. 30pm every Saturday to win £1, 000* Manchester City V Manchester United *18+, excludes NI. Terms and conditions apply During the international break, Raskin scored for Belgium - and said he wanted to stay at Ibrox ‘We have a lot of conversations, as we do with every player. Nico is back training with the squad which is a good step. ‘Now he has to make sure he earns the trust of his team-mates and the coaching staff in the building to help us win football matches, the same as every player here. ‘We have to be on the pitch with trust and feeling and clarity and that’s it. I think the most important thing is that Nico knows why, the players know why and we all move forward. We have to win football matches now. ‘He’s part of the squad in training and he needs to put himself back in the squad and the team to win matches. ’ Raskin played and scored for Belgium during the international break but gave an interview whilst he was away in which he stated his situation at Rangers is ‘complicated’. Martin was adamant that the matter is resolved. But, until the player is back in the team, it will continue to be an unwelcome sideshow. ‘It is resolved because he’s still here and he’s training with the group now. It’s fine, ’ said Martin, who has failed to win any of his four league matches in charge so far as Rangers have made their worst start to a season in 42 years. ‘It’s never a personal thing and it’s always professional. My job is to do what I think is best for the team and the club. It’s not about me, it’s not about Nico, it’s about everyone. ‘We’ve got a really good group now, a really good squad and we are so happy with it now the transfer window is shut. We’re in a stronger position and I’m excited about what they can achieve now. ’ Martin also confirmed that deadline-day signings Youssef Chermiti and Derek Cornelius could be in line to make their debuts against Hearts. Rangers spent £8million to sign Portuguese striker Chermiti from Everton, a fee that could rise to £10m with add-ons, making him the club’s second most expensive ever signing behind Tore Andre Flo. Cornelius, meanwhile, arrived on a season-long loan from Marseille, with Rangers having an option to buy the Canadian international next summer. A left-sided defender who can play centre-back or left-back, Cornelius scored a terrific free-kick in a friendly win for Canada against Wales during the international break. Confident the hefty transfer fee won’t affect Chermiti, Martin said: ‘I think Youssef has tools that you’d really want in a number nine. We can play two number nines now [along with Bojan Miovski]. ‘He has good athleticism, is a great kid, wants to learn, brilliant record at youth level. He hasn’t really had the chance he probably wanted at first-team level yet, obviously in the toughest league in the world as well. Raskin now has to earn 'the trust' of his team-mates and manager at Rangers ‘I think we’ll judge him on here and now and what he does for us. We’re really excited to have him in because he’s a seriously talented player. ‘There was a lot of interest throughout Europe in top leagues for him but he was desperate to be here. He knows people we’ve worked with at Southampton and Everton. ‘I don’t think the transfer fee… one, I’m not in charge of that which is a beautiful thing to come out and say to you guys. ‘The other thing is, it doesn’t come into my thinking. It’s a long-term investment for the football club, I think it’ll be a brilliant investment for the football club. I think he’ll do extremely well for us. ‘There won’t be any expectation on him in here, I’m sure externally, maybe that changes. ‘But in here the expectation is that he works as hard as he possibly can. He wants to learn, he wants to grow and he wants to help the team. I think he’ll do really well for us. ‘Derek has played in a style at Marseille in a club with big demand. At Marseille, it’s not easy. I think that will be fine for him here. I think that was one thing we looked at straight away. ‘I spoke to [Canada manager] Jesse Marsch at length about Derek and his character and personality. I think he’s someone we think can really help us. ‘He’s flexible on the back four as well. We’ll be able to tweak shape a bit more than we have done now with the additions we’ve got. It’s exciting for us. ’

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