Ex-Gers hitman agrees with Barry over who has made the biggest 'difference' to Nicolas Raskin
03/27/2025 10:00 AM
Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin continued his impressive development with a starting berth for Belgium during the international break.
Raskin replaced Celtic's Arne Engels in the Belgium squad ahead of a must-win UEFA Nations League double-header with Ukraine.
After making his debut for Belgium in the 3-1 defeat in Spain in the first leg, Rangers hero Nicolas Raskin was handed a start in the return in Genk.
And the former Standard Liege midfielder grabbed his opportunity with both hands, Raskin branded Belgium's Man of the Match after helping to overturn the tie in a 3-0 win.
New Belgium manager Rudi Garcia lauded Raskin at full-time, whilst the Belgian media branded Nico a 'pit bull' and hinted he could keep Aston Villa pair Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans out of the side.
The head-turning Belgium showing comes amid a season where Raskin is emerging as a key player in the Rangers team, Nico's energetic presence in midfield, healthy aggression and expert reading of the game making him a genuine asset and the beating heart of the Ibrox side.
But whilst Philippe Clement deserves immense credit for helping to turn things around with Raskin at Rangers, former Ibrox hitman Rory Loy reckons Barry Ferguson has also had a big impact on the 24-year-old.
Barry Ferguson's role in Nicolas Raskin development praised
Barry Ferguson was very much a player in the Nicolas Raskin mould during his heyday at Rangers.
The pigeon-chested midfield maverick roamed the surface at Ibrox park, snapping into challenges, leading from the front and acting as the bridging gap between defence and attack.
Ferguson perfected the art of the midfielder over his two spells at Ibrox and Loy reckons the Rangers legend has focused Raskin's mind in Glasgow.
Raskin had the pieces of the jigsaw already at hand but Loy reckons the influence of Fergie has helped him to put it together in recent weeks.
"To think he wasn't an automatic pick earlier this season is quite something," Loy told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.
"I think you have to give Barry Ferguson credit, I do. I know it's only been a few weeks and I'm not saying he's the reason Nicolas Raskin is in the Belgium squad.
"It is a cliche but that whole idea of driving standards, of instilling that little bit of belief and that winning mentality.
"I'm not saying (Raskin) never showed it under Philippe Clement but the consistency he's shown with it since Ferguson has come in has been quite something.
"So I do think (Ferguson) deserves credit in terms of the mental side of the game and then we already know he's got ability. He's shown that abundance over the last three months."
While Ferguson has been getting the credit from Loy, the former Rangers striker has commended Philippe Clement for handing Raskin the Rangers captain's armband earlier in the season.
With the Gers suffering from a spate of experienced absences, Raskin took on the mantle of captain and led the club to that 3-0 victory over Celtic at Ibrox.
"He's worn the armband which I think as well has probably boosted his confidence," said Loy.
"On top of that he gets in the Belgium squad and he's contributing. I read a Belgian journalist saying he's miles off being a first pick for Belgium.
"Well, he's went in and started the game and played well and shown up well so, look, I do think at the age he's at with the quality he has there's potential for him to go on and have a really, really good not only club career but international career as well."
Barry Ferguson on making Nicolas Raskin 'difference'
The comments from Rory Loy come after Barry Ferguson claimed he'd made a major 'difference' in Nicolas Raskin's game in only two-and-a-half weeks.
Ferguson was speaking after Raskin received the Belgium call-up and joked that it was his influence which had helped nudge him into the Red Devils squad.
Ferguson's leadership was certainly evident in Raskin's impressive display v Celtic, and the Rangers legend has hinted that there is more to come from the Ibrox side's form star.
"Yeah, I've seen Nico today and I told him that's the difference that I've made to him in two and a half weeks," Ferguson said after Raskin received the Belgium call.
"Nico, since I've come in, I've thought that he has so many good attributes, but also he has a few things he has to work on and he's open to that. I like that quality, it's the same with a number of my players.
"I'll spend time with him individually but because of the amount of football he's played I've not been able to get many [sessions in with him on the training pitch]. He's probably happy with that, that I can't get him one-to-on!"
It's certainly been an impressive few weeks for the midfielder but if Rangers don't tie Nicolas Raskin down soon, they could live to regret it almost immediately.
