Philippe Clement sends a major Rangers message over summer signing's future after intriguing decision

Rangers boss Philippe Clement has been told that he’s sent a message over a summer signing’s future - according to one pundit.

The Ibrox manager guided his side to a 2-1 Premier Sports Cup semi-final win over Motherwell on Sunday. Big games don’t stop coming in rapid succession for Rangers with Olympiacos in the Europa League midweek before hosting Hearts in the Premiership on Sunday.

In times like these, it’s a squad game, and most players will be called upon. But one substitute at Hampden raised eyebrows when centre-back Leon Balogun was requiring treatment in the second half.

Robin Propper arrived in the summer from FC Twente and he has featured 13 times so far. He was named as a sub against Motherwell and when he looked like the likely sub, Neraysho Kasanwirjo was brought, naturally a right-back.

Michael Stewart reckons that sends a message over the future of Propper within the Rangers ranks, in that he hasn’t shown enough that came with signing a captain from an established Dutch club like FC Twente. He told Premier Sports: “The players that you’re bringing in, you’ve got to have them have a big impact.

“Obviously the Dutchman, captain of Twente, he’s found himself under a lot of scrutiny. And he’s not coming on… That is a big, big statement there, in terms of Robin Propper. You can see, obviously, he’s not best pleased, sitting on the bench, understandably.

“But he hasn’t shown that leadership, he hasn’t shown that commanding role that you would be looking for from somebody that has good experience.”