One of the biggest differences in Old Firm battles in the last two seasons has been in midfield but in Nicolas Raskin, Rangers could have their very own Callum McGregor.
Michael Beale wants more energy, fresher legs and a more dynamic midfield, the Belgian, alongside Todd Cantwell, has shown the difference that this can make.
Rather than a defensive midfielder, Nicolas Raskin should be used by Rangers as a central pivot similar to the way that Callum McGregor has played under Ange Postecoglu.
When Brendan Rodgers was Celtic manager, he had Scott Brown sitting in front of his back four.
Slow, unable to carry the ball or resist pressure, he was a weak point that Steven Gerrard targeted with Ryan Kent and Scott Arfield.
In McGregor though, they have had a more mobile and technically gifted midfielder, capable of transitioning play from defence to attack and of dictating play at both ends of the park.
When McGregor has been missing, Celtic haven’t looked like the same team.
Nicolas Raskin has similar traits.
Having recently scored twice on international duty for Belgium Under-21s, he has shown that he can contribute at the sharp end.
Already, he looks like a player who is more than happy to shoot from long range with either foot too.
The 22-year old is also effective at evading pressure through his upper body strength and his ability to drive out of defence.
Too often in recent seasons we have relied on midfielders who are too happy just to retain possession rather than lift their heads up and look forwards.
Raskin, like McGregor, is comfortable playing first time passes rather than taking three or four touches before releasing the ball and letting a defence regroup.
If Michael Beale, as expected, can get Jose Cifuentes announced in the near future, Rangers midfield will look infinitely quicker, more skilled and more suitable to what he is trying to achieve.
With Nicolas Raskin the pulsating heart-beat for Rangers, right in the middle of it all.
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