There's no way any boss would leave a lad as tenacious and determined as Nico out if his mind was fully focused

Hopefully Gers get past window with Belgian still here and he'll get back to his best

- 

THERE is only a small band of people who really know the true story of what has gone on with Nico Raskin this summer.

And that select circle won't extend much further beyond the player himself, his agents and the senior staff at Rangers.

I've heard the same rumours of a fall-out with Russell Martin and whispers of a potential move away from Ibrox.

But I'll be honest, I have no idea how much - if any - of it is true.

What I do know for definite, however, is that Nico is a huge talent with the potential to be a top international midfielder.

I felt we managed to get the very best out of him during my spell in charge last season and his reward was a place in the Belgium team.

We're talking about a young man who was able to line up alongside Kevin De Bruyne and not look out of place.

That's why I really hope that by the time the clock strikes 11pm on Monday evening and the transfer deadline has passed, the wee man is still a Rangers player.

Clearly, though, something is up between him and the club right now.

There's no way any boss would leave a lad as tenacious and as determined as Nico out of a starting line-up if his mind was fully focused.

Russell has admitted previously that he felt Raskin's head had been turned over the summer by all the transfer talk swirling around.

And he hinted again after Wednesday's hugely disappointing Brugge defeat that there were no guarantees the midfielder would still be here once the window slams shut.

Maybe that was in his thinking when he opted to leave Raskin out of his starting line up in Belgium.

Obviously the result proved to be a nightmare and people are already questioning that major selection call.