Pundit spies grim Rangers reality for Nico Raskin and serves up unflinching truth about life as a 'peripheral figure'

Michael Stewart has told Rangers fringe man Nico Raskin he has now become a 'peripheral figure' at Ibrox.

The midfielder arrived in Glasgow during Michael Beale's reign and looked like he would be a 'wonderful' signing for the Light Blues. But that early promise has recently not been evident or shown when opportunities come around, like his rare start against St Johnstone. Connor Barron - a summer arrival from Aberdeen - looks to be Philippe Clement's main man in the middle of the park. But he was handed a rare rest from the off on Sunday night with Raskin given a big chance to shine.

However, pundit Stewart, who was on commentary duty for the 2-0 win over St Johnstone, doesn't believe the midfielder, who has been 'starved of any real game time' offered enough to convince his boss that he can nail down a regular starting berth. Speaking while on Premier Sports duty for the Ibrox clash, the pundit said: "Nicky Clark out of possession has just sat on top of [Nicolas] Raskin, who has not really been able to get involved too much in the game. He will be desperate to have an impact and an involvement. He's been starved of any real game time.

“His first couple of months at Ibrox, he looked as if he was going to be a wonderful signing for Rangers. As you said injury has meant he’s never been able to nail down that position in the middle of the park and obviously Connor Barron has come in this season, he seems to be Philippe Clement’s number one man in the middle of the park. Raskin has just become a peripheral figure really.”