Bomb squad vs Rangers detonators – eight signs you couldn't miss watching Russell Martin's uneven side up close

Daily Record

27-07-2025

There's an uneven nature to this bloated Ibrox squad and that was evident in the 2-2 draw against Middlesbrough
There's been a clamour to see more of Russell Martin 's Rangers revolution up close with multiple warm-ups taking place behind closed doors this summer.
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But a sizable section of the natives were left peeking through the cracks of their fingers as a selection of fringe men teetered on the brink while implementing the boss' highwire act in the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough at Ibrox .
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Seriously, the former Scotland international's style of play isn't for the faint of heart and Boro boss Rob Edwards was primed and ready to expose the dangers of Martin's methods when carried out by men who may not make the grade with Rangers.
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The term 'bomb squad' became a buzzword for fringe players without a future during the Steven Gerrard era and there's a few in the current set-up who can't get a near squad which nearly stretched into two rows in the club's official player list inside the matchday programme.
Robin Propper exited that particular sub-unit with the likes of Ross McCausland, Jose Cifuentes, Ben Davies and Ridvan Yilmaz all likely to be seconded elsewhere before the window closes.
But even on the pitch on Saturday there was a seismic difference between peripheral figures who appear candidates to depart compared to the first-team finishers, or detonators in this case, who blew up Boro's dominance to earn a draw and underline the uneven nature of the current Rangers squad.
Record Sport was on hand and here's what you couldn't fail to spot during an uneven 90 minutes ahead of Wednesday's gargantuan Champions League second leg qualifier against Panathinaikos.
Oscar worthy
Oscar Cortes has endured a torrid 18 months at Rangers and a story not dissimilar to that of pal Danilo. And it appears the Colombian has a shot at his own redemption arc after gamely rising to the challenge as an auxiliary right-back with licence to bomb up the pitch.
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Martin singled him out for praise for a display which wasn't perfect but had his manager clapping with approval despite not everything coming off for the 21-year-old. The £4m man has ways to go but his Ibrox career won't be ended due to a lack of fight.
Jefte price
The same couldn't be said for Jefte on the other side. The 21-year-old struggled with multiple facets of the game against Middlesbrough and there was a marked difference when Max Aarons replaced him. Jefte is yet to excel in the inverted work which is a necessity under Martin.
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And a quip from Neil McCann on punditry before the first leg against Panathinaikos rang loud while watching him flounder against Boro. The recent Rangers coach claimed the Brazilian is an insecure boy in need of cajoling and reassurances. But they don't appear forthcoming unless he can rise to the challenge.
You're my main Eman
Emmanuel Fernandez came with a warning upon the completion of his £3.5m move from Peterborough that the 23-year-old was a work in progress. That was evident as he and rookie Zander Hutton struggled mightily in containing Tommy Conway. However, he was a different player in the second half as he forged a strong pairing with the impressive Nasser Djiga.
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Bailey's on ice
In a week when the scarcity of young Scottish talent has been high on the agenda, with Dundee United not naming a Scot in their starting Euro starting XI, it would be remiss to turn on an 18-year-old rising star after a friendly display to forget. But Bailey Rice isn't your average talented teen and, in truth, the expectations on Rice exceed where his game is at present. He struggled as the anchor of the midfield
A nod to Nico
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Martin remarked the Belgian's blazing 30-minute cameo was the best he's been in Light Blue since the former Southampton boss landed the job. And Raskin's role is now truly defined in this new Ibrox era.
The 23-year-old is being tasked with becoming a bonafide attacking midfielder working on the left side of the midfield. Raskin and fellow subs Aarons and Findlay Curtis built upon their booming crescendo against the Greeks midweek and their impact on that side of the pitch instantly had Boro boss Edwards scrambling to thwart the newly-discovered threat.
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Russ' wee fib
The boss claimed he was usually a zen-like figure during pre-season but that hasn't been the case during both Ibrox showcases with fans in attendance against Brugge and Boro, Martin even remarked his pent-up anger over the penalty that wasn't towards John Beaton and his officials was borne out of frustration over what he reckons were too many starters in the first half failing to meet his high standards.
Dan truly is the man
Cyriel Dessers exiting at half-time after a bitty pre-season appeared cautionary rather than a nod to an impending start in Athens on Wednesday, And, in truth, Danilo reminded everyone inside Ibrox why he has been thriving during pre-season. The 26-year-old links the play and his header to spark the comeback was anything but easy.
Lyall lives up to hype
His stadium man of the match award was warmly received and the former Dundee man appears a good bet to make the grade. Cameron demanded the ball, found space to receive it on the half turn and was willing to drive his side up the pitch. The early signs are promising for the 22-year-old.