Leon Balogun revels in Rangers reward from Philippe Clement after 'tough weeks' on the outside left him wondering

You probably had to be there to get a true feel for the sheer exasperation of it all.

But Philippe Clement could hardly have made his utter bemusement over the decision making of Michael Beale any more clear. “On Thursday we have a really big game,” mused the Belgian in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s Viaplay Cup semi final win over Hearts. He then added: “We also miss some players that I cannot select because they are not on the European list, that I didn’t make in the beginning of the season. It is again a puzzle.”

That he stopped just short of asking what on earth his predecessor was thinking about didn’t dilute the message. Leon Balogun has probably been thinking something very similar ever since returning to Rangers in the summer, at a time when Beale was taking a scattergun to the transfer market.

At times, the big Nigerian must have wondered if he’s been coming or going given the way his two stints at Ibrox have worked out. Shown the door against his will by Giovanni van Bronckhorst despite helping the club reach a European final in May 2022 and win its last piece of silverware in the Scottish Cup Final a few days later.

Then unexpectedly brought back in by Beale two years later only to be made to feel like an unwanted fringe man within a matter of weeks - jettisoned from the very Europa League squad which is now causing Clement such obvious consternation. And yet there he was at Hampden on Sunday, in the heart of Clement’s defence, hardly putting a foot wrong as Rangers romped their way back to the national stadium for a showpiece final against Aberdeen on December 17.

That’s two games on the trot for Balogun who was given a surprise start by Clement last week at Dens Park but who must now return to the