The moment at Mulderssingel has been almost prophetic. It was a substitution in a pre-season fixture that has set the tone for the first months of the campaign.

Connor Barron replaced Nicolas Raskin on that afternoon and has taken his place in the Rangers midfield in the weeks that have followed. Is it now a case of one or the other for Philippe Clement? Or can harmony be found individually and collectively?

A kickabout against Ajax was supposed to represent a fresh start for Raskin. Instead, it turned into another setback. The physical damage has since healed but his season has not fully recovered, and the small steps made have not taken Raskin that far forward in the three months since.

The tackle from Branco van den Boomen that set Raskin down this path was as reckless as it was needless given the occasion in the quaint surroundings on the outskirts of Zwolle. Raskin received treatment on the park and was then helped off it three minutes before the end of the first half. An hour or so later, the Belgian sported a protective boot as he made his way back to the team bus, stopping for photographs with fans and receiving well-wishes as he hobbled homewards.

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Speaking post-match, Clement confirmed Raskin had twisted his ankle. Within a couple of days, he detailed a timescale that ruled Raskin out for the first weeks of the campaign. The reaction from supporters was one of bemusement given the almost farcical injury situation that Rangers had been through and suffered from in the second half of last term.

Raskin had endured fitness and form issues as he struggled to make an impact under Clement. As a result, the summer schedule carried a particular significance for the midfielder. Yet it only acted as the precursor for more frustration during what has been a mixed start to the season for Clement’s side.

While Raskin was being cared for behind the scenes at the home of WHC Wezep, Barron produced an accomplished showing against the Eredivisie opposition. That has been the theme of the season for the summer recruit and Barron has been a consistent and largely impressive performer throughout. His mistake against Lyon was the most high-profile error of his campaign but Clement expressed his belief that Barron would not be negatively impacted and a significant weight continues to be placed on relatively inexperienced shoulders.

(Image: Craig Foy - SNS Group) Barron has accumulated more than 1000 minutes over 13 appearances following his move from Aberdeen. In contrast, the 45 that Raskin was given against Hibernian doubled his tally after appearing for just 10, 17 and 10 respectively in the matches with Celtic, Dundee United and Malmo.

Clement opted to start Raskin and Barron together against Hibernian. It was a plan that the Belgian rethought at the break. Given how the campaign had gone for both players respectively, it was perhaps no surprise that it was Raskin that made way for the second half as Clement sought to ask more questions of the visitors.

The midfield went through its own overhaul during the summer as established figures in John Lundstram, Ryan Jack and Todd Cantwell moved on. Jose Cifuentes also departed. Barron was one of the first arrivals of the window, while playmaker Nedim Bajrami was the last deal that was done.

A different profile of midfielder and a more natural No.6 was the wish of many supporters during the transfer window but Clement must now go with what he has as Kieran Dowell also looks to force his way into contention and youngsters Cole McKinnon and Bailey Rice wait for their chances.

Right now, that trio are not serious contenders for starting slots on a sustained basis and Raskin is the natural back-up option to the pairing of Barron and Mohamed Diomande that has been established since those early days of the summer. The other alternative, Dujon Sterling, remains in a positional limbo and Clement cannot build a midfield base around a player that he has durability doubts over. Regardless, it is believed that Sterling's long-term future is seen at right-back.

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Diomande arguably has the highest ceiling of any midfielder at the club and has aspects to his game that his central counterparts do not, including the flexibility that allows him to operate a line further forward if required. On form, Barron is some way ahead of Raskin. As one realises his potential, the other must prove that his can be fulfilled.

“I hope [he can have] a really big one,” Clement said of Raskin’s season aspirations after seeing the midfielder make his first appearance of the campaign at Parkhead last month. “Nico has a lot of quality and he has a lot of competition also with a good player like Connor Barron. So it's going to be interesting with the two of them.”

As Clement pointed to in that same interview, the congested nature of the fixture calendar and the demands that will be placed on players this season mean that every member of his squad will be required to contribute. Raskin is now entering a defining period.

His initial months at Ibrox under Michael Beale were encouraging. He arrived with a proven pedigree from his time at Standard Liege and within the Belgian youth setup, but he did not progress as expected or required in his first full campaign.

Raskin spoke enthusiastically about the appointment of Clement after facing his Club Brugge side earlier in his career. The arrival of his compatriot looked like the stars aligning for the 23-year-old but Clement insisted no preferential treatment would be given. Raskin started the wins over Hibernian and Hearts at Ibrox and then missed several weeks through injury.

The second half of the campaign had no rhythm for Raskin. He was substituted early against Hibernian and St Mirren but calls for his inclusion increased as Clement’s squad was decimated and Rangers’ silverware aspirations unravelled. A start in the Scottish Cup final was merited given his impact in the previous weeks but it was a season that many at Ibrox were ultimately pleased to see the back of.

In an interview in his homeland over the summer, Raskin set his sights on a more sustained impact this term. He described Clement’s arrival as a ‘breath of fresh air’ and spoke of the benefits of a more European approach at Ibrox. Events soon dictated his path, but he remains part of the story, as Clement phrases it, heading into a run of matches that will shape ambitions on the field and the mood off it.

A statement made in an interview this time last year, when Raskin expressed his desire to one day play in the Premier League, is often used to denigrate him by his detractors. The former Standard Liege midfielder does not look destined for a move onwards and upwards at present. Indeed, it is his Ibrox future that he must focus on, and that he is perhaps fighting for.

Raskin is now in the situation where he must perform whenever he is given the chance to avoid a narrative building around him that Clement doesn’t, in Scottish football parlance, fancy him as a player. The manager has not given that impression with his words, but supporters will look to his actions as evidence. His contribution against Hibs was not at a level that merited being hooked at half-time and it would be a difficult argument to win if your position was that Dowell offered, or can offer, much more than the Belgian.

"It was a tactical thing in the game," Clement said when asked about the decision ahead of the Europa League fixture with Lyon. "For him his role has changed this season compared with last season in midfield, we do slightly different things so he needs to adapt in that way and like with every player, we showed after the images.

(Image: StatsBomb) "He is hungry to learn and he will become better. Nico can do two roles in the midfield, the role of Connor Barron also. It’s about learning and getting better in that way."

There was no clamour for Raskin to start against Lyon and the game was gone by the time he got 20 minutes under his belt. A couple of days later, the visit of St Johnstone offered Raskin another opportunity. On this occasion, he replaced Barron from the start and then partnered him after the break as he completed his first 90 minutes of the campaign.

(Image: StatsBomb)

The schedule this season dictates that Raskin will be required to perform and play his part. When Barron replaced Diomande at the interval on Sunday, Raskin continued in the deeper role where he had started the evening. Perhaps it was an indication that Raskin and Barron can operate in the same midfield.

Raskin was not a standout performer against the Saints. Given the flow of the action and the possession dominance that Rangers enjoyed, it was never going to be the kind of occasion where he would be a game-changing presence. The onus was on Clement's attacking players and Raskin was effective in breaking up play. A late yellow card for a foul on Nicky Clark was perhaps needless but did not blot his record on a straightforward evening.

The minutes that were banked were arguably the most encouraging aspect for Raskin. He has, after all, been short of them at various stages of his Rangers career.