By Mark Pirie

Copyright dailyrecord

Nicolas Raskin is back in the Rangers team after being dropped frozen out of the squad by Russell Martin. And Ibrox insiders Lee McCulloch and Alex Rae reckon they know exactly why the simmering feud was put behind the pair. The Belgian international was dropped from the first-team picture following the 6-0 hammering in the Champions League playoff at the hands of Club Brugge – with Martin bringing his three-game exile to an end against Hibs. Raskin rewarded the under-fire boss by netting the first goal against Hibs to see the Light Blues on the path to the Premier Sports Cup semi-final with a 2-0 victory. Both the Belgian international and boss Martin were keen to put the row behind them after securing progress in the cup – with the former Southampton gaffer declaring that the move to drop the key man could be a “necessary thing” for the overall squad. And McCulloch – who has stated he was invited into view training this term – states that the pair have finally realised they must put the team first. He told The Sun : “Everyone just wants the best for Rangers. I’ve been in and around training and I know how hard the manager and his staff are working. “They’re putting everything into it in an attempt to bring success to the football club. “The players are the same. Everyone is working incredibly hard and with Nico back in the team that’s another huge bonus. “These things happen in football, but when they do it’s important to find a solution and move on. “That’s what the manager and Nico have done now, and that’s great news for the team. “You saw the difference he makes because I thought he was outstanding against Hibs at the weekend and I was delighted to see him get on the scoresheet too. “A fully fit and firing Raskin would enhance just about any team out there so it’s tremendous to see him back in the team. “I know everyone is working so hard to deliver not just results, but performances too, and Saturday was a big step in the right direction.” Rae coached the 24-year-old while working alongside Philippe Clement – and reckons that pressure from protesting fans and his importance to the squad has forced the hand of Martin. He told PLZ: “I think the importance of that game at the weekend – and he also had a hand in the second with an assist almost, when he chips it into (Mikey) Moore for (Bojan) Miovski to tap it in. “So, he is having key moments in games. That will emphasise the importance to Russell Martin (of Raskin), and not just that, actually the fans want Nico to be in the team for what he is delivering. “Whatever the relationship is with Nicolas Raskin and Russell Martin, the two of them have to get beyond that for the benefit of the team.”