SUPER SNUB

Martin reveals Igamane refused to play as toiling Gers slump 6 points behind Celtic with draw in Paisley

- BY ANDY NEWPORT

STUNNED Russell Martin claims Hamza Igamane refused to come off the bench as his ragged Rangers dropped more points in Paisley yesterday.

The under-pressure Ibrox boss was looking for a spark as his team toiled against Stephen Robinson's superb St Mirren side.

But he was left shocked when Igamane knocked back the chance to appear as a second-half sub.

The maverick Moroccan claimed he was injured and could not feature, leaving kid Findlay Curtis to rescue a point as he cancelled out Jonah Ayunga’s opener. Now Martin says he will have to trust that the 23-year-old is telling the truth after revealing the club knocked back a bid for the Lille-linked striker last week.

Martin whose side is now six points off the title pace after just three games said: "I wanted to bring Hamza on at around 60 minutes, and he said he'd a sore quad, so he can't come on.

"He trained fine yesterday, warmed up fine, and when I turned around because I wanted two strikers on the pitch Hamza told me he is injured.

"Did I know about that? Well, he wouldn't be on the bench if he's not fit.