Rangers manager Philippe Clement has all but ruled Nicolas Raskin out of the upcoming ViaPlay Cup Final against Aberdeen due to injury.
The Belgian boss, 49, was speaking about the midfielder’s situation after the 2-0 victory over St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.
With the Hampden clash against the Dons looming large on the 17th of December, Philippe Clement had been fielding questions on the injury status of Nicolas Raskin.
Injury could rule Nicolas Raskin out of ViaPlay Cup Final
After claiming that Nicolas Raskin’s rehab was “not going well” the manager was later asked about the midfielder’s availability for the ViaPlay Cup Final.
It doesn’t appear to be good news either, with the Rangers star looking increasingly unlikely to be available for the Hampden showpiece.
“I think the chances are really small, for the moment,” said Clement. “It’s how I see it but I am not a doctor.
“I’m for sure not a specialist or a professor in those things so we’re going to go to the best people to find the best and the fastest solution for him.”
Asked to provide an injury update earlier in the post-match press conference, Clement said: “Ryan Jack will not be so long, Nicolas Raskin will have a new assessment in the beginning of the week because his rehab is not going well.
“I am not so happy about that but it’s the way that is so we need to find other solutions for the moment.”
Rangers look for fresh solutions to old problem
Since Philippe Clement came into Rangers, injury problems have hampered his squad and the situation with Nicolas Raskin is the latest in a succession of issues.
The 22-year-old midfielder looked set to be an important part of his countryman’s Rangers side before sustaining the issue, which came in the late 2-1 victory over Hearts at Ibrox.
Stretchered off the park, Rangers haven’t been able to use Nicolas Raskin since and the injury is clearly a serious enough one to rule him out for the foreseeable future.
Rangers fans are used to these sorts of soundbites and from where we sit, we’d be surprised to see Nicolas Raskin for the remainder of 2023.
Signed from Standard Liege for a reported £1.3m last January, Rangers are said to have held off interest from across Europe for Nicolas Raskin.
As a result of the injury, Rangers and Philippe Clement are looking for fresh solutions with the Belgian coach employing Tom Lawrence in a deep-lying midfield role in the win over the Saints.
