Despite only starting two games since arriving from Standard Liege on deadline day, Nico Raskin should be one of the first names on the teamsheet at Hampden this Sunday. 

When laying out his requirements for January arrivals, Michael Beale reiterated two key points. Any new signing had to be a starter who was able to drive Beale's version of Rangers forwards.

Raskin, just like Todd Cantwell, fits the bill perfectly. He is a profile of player this squad has needed for some time. With an energetic and combative style off the ball complimenting his progressive, technical qualities on it.

“I feel good. The boys have helped me a lot. We still have some connections to make and to get better," he said speaking after Saturday's 3-0 win at Livingston. 

"Like sometimes I want to play forward because I'm used to playing forward. We just need to know each other better. But I've only been here for three weeks and as time goes on we'll get better and better."

Rangers needed a player at the base of midfield capable of protecting the defence and covering for others but also able to make significant contributions in attack. Saturday’s performance at Livingston, on the back of a full debut against Partick Thistle, have validated all the excitement Raskin's arrival at Ibrox generated.

Playing forwards, quickly…

As Raskin stated following Saturday’s match, he likes to play forwards quickly. The Belgian takes risks with his passing and is more focused on progressing the ball than simply retaining it.

In the absence of Steven Davis, Rangers have lacked a player capable of moving the ball through the midfield in this manner. 

It’s not only directly that Raskin can help break down defences, his movement from deep areas has also caught the eye so far.

It’s an obvious statement but one of the keys to breaking down a defence is moving it around. That's one of the reasons you see Beale’s team perform so many rotations. Either a free man is created, or space opens up.

"I think we had to get them to move a lot, to create more space," Raskin added after the win in West Lothian. 

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Take this example from the first half. Raskin moves the ball wide towards James Tavernier and then runs forward, rather than standing still.

By continuing his run beyond the defence, Raskin takes a man away from the midfield which opens up a passing lane into Ryan Kent. The Belgian nearly ends up the recipient of a through ball himself.

An assist for Antonio Colak against Partick Thistle on his debut showed off a deft final ball but similarly, it was this type of proactive movement that allowed Raskin to arrive in the penalty area untracked.

The phrase ‘everyone is attacking and everyone is defending’ comes to mind. Raskin’s shown an ability already to contribute to the attack from the base of midfield. 

Switching play

If space between the lines is not obvious, Raskin is adept at picking out a teammate on the far side of the pitch. It’s an attribute his former manager, Luka Elsner, highlighted when talking with the Rangers Review.

READ MORE: Managing Rangers’ Nico Raskin: 'He brings fire to games on his own'

“His range of passing is impressive, from short to long. One of his best qualities is switching play and seeing the far side of the pitch," Elsner said.

90 percent of his passes against Livingston found their target. Of those five misplaced passes, three were an attempt to play over the top or in behind.

Raskin made five successful high switches of play, four of which were to the left-hand side.

Dominating the pitch

Beale was keen to stress before Raskin’s arrival that he was not “a little Rottweiler, but a technical player like Glen [Kamara]”.

Alongside his quality on the ball, however, the 21-year-old has shown himself to be proactive off of it. Again, to go back to his former manager, Raskin presses with intention.

“Defensively, he also needs freedom to go and press higher. His game doesn’t function well when everything is static," Elsner commented. 

“Off the ball, he’s like a pitbull. You get him off the leash and he is chasing. Again, not just reading the pass but going to intercept the ball."

A look at his defensive activity map from the game at Livingston and cameo against Ross County is indicative of Raskin not remaining static without the ball. He’ll cover full-backs and shut down danger out wide, run forwards off the ball and regain possession.

No player made more ball recoveries (18) against David Martindale’s side than the young midfielder. Again, note the location of his ball recoveries. Raskin seeks out danger, rather than waiting for it to reach him in the security of a block.

There was a moment early on against Partick Thistle that demonstrated this well.

Raskin doesn’t win the ball in this phase of play but the angle and intensity he presses at forces the visitors backwards, despite the fact they have a two-vs-one in the centre. Allowing the Rangers midfield to recover when the threat of a counterattack existed. 

Although Raskin's quality in possession has impressed predominantly so far, his strengths off the ball can't go under the radar. 

Asked if he'd have any reservations about starting Raskin, or Cantwell, at Hampden so early into their Rangers careers Beale said: "No, they're two excellent players. Everything I needed to see I saw today."

While Cantwell may have to battle with Malik Tillman and Fashion Sakala for a starting berth, Raskin's road into the starting XI looks far clearer. After just two starts, he's made a place on the teamsheet his own.