Nico Raskin's Rangers rehab 'not going well' as Philippe Clement admits need for Viaplay Cup final solutions
The Belgian Under 21 international was injured in the semi-final win over Hearts and is now a major doubt to gace Aberdeen.
Philippe Clement praised Todd Cantwell’s reaction after watching the playmaker bounce back from his Europa League hooking to inspire Rangers to victory against St Mirren.
Cantwell was left red faced after he was dragged off just 36 minutes into Thursday’s drab draw with Aris Limassol. Clement made his brutal decision after accusing the former Norwich ace of ignoring his tactical instructions. But the Belgian was delighted with the 25-year-old’s reaction as he shrugged off that shock substitution to lay on both goals for Abdallah Sima in Gers’ 2-0 win over the Buddies.
Asked if his performance justified his decision to include Cantwell in his line-up, Clement said: “You guys can decide about that. For me his selection was already assured before the game. We talked about Thursday and he agreed that he was not doing what he should do. He was frustrated himself about that. So this was the reaction I wanted to see.
“It’s a team sport. Otherwise we need to become a tennis player or something! Todd is part of a team. We talked about that.
“We know (the No10 role) is a better position for him but we also have to look at the other circumstances with all the injuries. We didn’t have many players available and he did a good job [on the right wing] also. Don’t forget this.
“Against Sparta Prague he was one of the best players. And he knows that. He is still available to play on the right side or the left side. About that we also had a really clear talk.”
Clement celebrated his 10th game in charge of the Light Blues with another win but it was another day when Gers laboured in the early stages. But the Ibrox boss was pleased to see his side remain calm in the face of Saints’ stubborn resistance before Sima’s opener on the stroke of half-time breaking the deadlock.
He said: “It’s always important to score the first goal when you’re trying to break a wall. That’s always the case. Of course you want to do that from the first second which is what we tried.
“You need to keep the ball tempo high to make an opponent more tired. It’s normal that most of the times that it’s later in the game you get the goal. It was because of the quality of our passing today that we get these chances.”
Tom Lawrence was back in the Gers starting line-up, filling one of the midfield anchor roles alongside John Lundstram. And it could be a job he’ll have to do again in the coming weeks, with Clement confirming Nico Raskin is a major doubt for the Viaplay Cup final against Aberdeen on December 17.
The Belgium Under-21 ace hasn’t been seen since tweaking ankle ligaments in a clash with Hearts at the end of October. Clement said: “I congratulated Tom after the game. It’s not his normal position but I’m looking for solutions with Ryan Jack out, with Nicolas Raskin out and with Jose Cifuentes coming back from injury.
“And I was really happy with how Tom performed today. Because of him we could keep a high tempo on the ball. 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.
“So I’m not so happy about that but it’s the way it is. We need to find other solutions. I think the chance [for Raskin to play in the cup final] is really small for the moment.
“But I’m not a doctor and I’m for sure not a doctor or a specialist in these things. We will go to the best people to find the best and fastest solution.”