'Igamane will be a HUGE asset' Rangers state of address in full as boss savours Raskin vs Barron battle

He wouldn’t have been the first name on Philippe Clement’s list of targets for his summer rebuild.

In fact, whether it was even the Rangers manager’s sole decision to pursue a young Scot from Aberdeen is up for debate. But if the Belgian didn’t know much about Connor Barron before he checked in at Auchenhowie, he certainly does now. There was no fanfare around the 22-year-old’s arrival at Ibrox in the transfer window. Signed on a Bosman – with a fee still to be set by an SPFL tribunal – Scotland Under-21 star Barron was arguably the most unglamorous outfield acquisition. But the midfielder has made an impression on his manager.

And right now, when fans are calling for proper leaders off the back of a disastrous Old Firm defeat to Celtic, Clement says Barron is one who’s ready to stand up and be counted. No Rangers player got pass marks in that dismal 3-0 derby defeat at Parkhead a fortnight ago. But while other players appeared to go into their shell, Barron never hid.

And with Clement needing big characters and personalities in his dressing-room, the former Dons kid has come to the
fore. The Ibrox gaffer has given Barron permission to become one of the squad’s key figures going forward. Clement said: “We need to rebuild leadership within the group here. That’s about players taking responsibility both on the pitch and off it. And then spreading the right message during games, training sessions, everything.

“It’s interesting for me to see those steps on the road. And I see a lot of positive things in Connor. From the first moment he stepped into the building he’s been somebody who wants to take that responsibility. And he also wants to show his quality every day and in every game. Connor has the mandate from me to go