Rangers sub Igamane ‘injured’ days after bid rejected

Igamane completed the warm-up in Paisley, but did not come on as a substitute

Rangers forward Hamza Igamane refused to come on as a substitute during the club's 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw against St Mirren on Sunday, says head coach Russell Martin.

Igamane trained in the build-up to the game and completed the warm-up in Paisley, after a week in which Rangers rejected a bid for him,

However, when Martin turned to bring the Morocco international on as a second-half substitute as Rangers chased a leveller, Igamane said he was injured.

"I turned around to him at 60 minutes and Hamza told me he's injured," Martin told Sky Sports. "I have to trust him, but we'll see."

Martin also revealed Rangers turned down a bid before the game for Igamane, who has been extensively linked with a move away from Glasgow this summer.

"The issue is that the window is still open and there are people with one eye out and one eye in," Martin said. "We had a bid this week for Hamza that we rejected.

"There are too many people uncertain and we have to make sure we have people that want to be here. I'm calm about it."

Martin reiterated his comments about Igamane in his post-match news conference, adding that the Moroccan told him he had strained a quad muscle warming up.

BBC Sport Scotland have contacted representatives of Igamane for comment.

'Kick him out' - the former players' view

Former Rangers player & coach Billy Dodds: "Russell Martin is right to out Igamane. It doesn't help him with the predicament that he's in just now.

"It's Rangers, you'd never refuse to go on the park. I don't care who it is, if you refuse, you should be out of the club, end of."

Former Rangers forward Steven Thompson: "Absolutely ridiculous. Embarrassing from Igamane. Martin's right to call it out.

"To me, that says Igamane has played his last game for the club because you're not playing a player who refuses to play."

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton: "The obvious thing to do is kick him out.

"Russell Martin has had a disastrous start, but this is where I feel for him. He has to try to change that dressing room and change that mentality."

But do Rangers fans back Igamane?

Here2win79: "Can't blame Igamane, if I had a manager as bad as Russell Martin, I wouldn't come on either. He's managed to devalue our two assets in midfield by completely misusing them, no point in letting him ruin Igamane as well."

Peter: "When Martin came in, he wanted Igamane out. Offers fell through and cooled for a bit, then another offer comes in. The boy knows Martin doesn't want him and his head is not in a good place because of Martin."

David: "Igamane is absolutely correct, they should all down tools and get rid of this embarrassment of a manager."

Tom: "Perhaps Martin is trying to re-direct the fans anger using Igamane as a scapegoat? Not sure either are winning any popularity contests soon with the Ibrox faithful."