Rangers’ under-pressure boss Russell Martin claimed striker Hamza Igamane refused to come on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at St Mirren this afternoon.
Martin’s men trailed to Jonah Ayunga’s 32nd-minute goal in Paisley and the former Southampton boss turned to his bench in a bid to find a leveller.
Igamane was his preferred option but the Moroccan said he was injured and could not play.
Teenager Findlay Curtis did fire in an equaliser with 12 minutes to go but Rangers could not grab a winner as they slumped to their worst start to a domestic season in 36 years.
Martin, who is alrerady under pressure at Ibrox following the midweek defeat at home to Club Brugge in the Champions League, was asked about his substitutions and was quick to highlight Igamane’s behavoiur.
He told Sky Sports: “Hamza told me he was injured.
“We had a bid this week for Hamza, we rejected it, all was fine, trained fine yesterday, warmed up fine.
“I turned around to him at 60 minutes because I wanted two strikers on the pitch.
“And Hamza told me he was injured.”
Martin’s Rangers again out of sorts
Martin was unimpressed with his team’s display at the SMiSA Stadium with Rangers now sitting in seventh place in the Scottish Premiership – already six points behind arch rivals Celtic.
“We don’t start well enough again, not enough energy and intensity. The ball can’t get behind us like that two-v-one, it’s impossible,” he added.
“It’s much easier when you show courage to take the ball and stick to the ball.
“There’s too much tension, there’s not enough courage with the ball, so we have to fight more than we should without the ball. It’s nothing new.
“The second half we finish strongly and I thought we’d go on to win the game, but we don’t.
“We will work it out, we’ll get feedback from the players.
“Usually eight weeks in, you’re two or three games in. We’re having to learn quickly. The whole dynamic can change by the end of next week.
“Perspective is really important.
“There’s a few areas we’re looking to strengthen, but I don’t think there’s anything imminent.”
