NICOLAS RASKIN was dramatically axed from the Rangers squad to face Celtic last Sunday.
Now away on international duty, the midfielder has been dealing with another snub.
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Raskin, 24, was forced to watch on from home as Rangers and Celtic played out a dire 0-0 draw in the first Old Firm clash of the season last weekend.
Gers boss Russell Martin made the bombshell decision to AXE the key star from his squad for the derby.
SunSport understands it was a decision taken based on Raskin’s conduct behind the scenes.
Rangers fans chanted Raskin’s name during the match, which came just a day before the transfer deadline.
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Despite plenty of uncertainty surrounding his future, he has stayed at the Ibrox club.
Gers sporting director Kevin Thelwell then revealed earlier this week that clear the air talks between Martin and Raskin are due to happen after the international break.
Raskin is away with the Belgium squad for their World Cup qualifying double header against Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan.
But when manager Rudi Garcia’s starting XI dropped, there was NO sign of the Rangers star.
He was left among the subs for the match against Liechtenstein in Vaduz.
Raskin has become a regular part of his national team’s setup in recent months and has four caps to his name.
Whether or not the situation at Rangers played on Garcia’s decision remains to be seen.
Raskin emerged as the Gers’ star man in a difficult campaign last season.
His form also saw him linked with mega money moves to England and Europe during the summer.
However, since Martin’s arrival, he has found himself in and out of the starting XI.
Prior to being left out altogether from the squad to face Celtic, Raskin was also left out of the starting XI for the 6-0 thumping by Club Brugge in Champions League qualifying.
Belgium boss Garcia opted for a midfield three of Youri Tielemans, Kevin De Bruyne and Hans Vanaken, with Raskin named as a sub.
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A factor in the decision might be the fact Raskin is one yellow card away from picking up a suspension.
He was one of four Belgium players who headed into the match on that particular tightrope.
Two of those players – Thomas Meunier and Maxim De Cuyper – were named as starters against Liechtenstein, however.
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Meanwhile, Raskin has been included in the Gers squad for their Europa League campaign.
Kieran Dowell and Nedim Bajrami have been left out of the 24-man group for the league phase which gets underway later this month.
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