‘I hope he gets the support he needs' – Rangers legend spotted as he's granted personal audience with Russell Martin
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RANGERS boss Russell Martin was granted a personal audience with an Ibrox legend this morning ahead of the midweek Champions League crunch vs Panathinaikos.
Nine in a row icon Richard Gough visited the club's training base at Auchenhowie and had a few words of support.
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The real stuff starts for Russell Martin this week
Credit: Willie Vass
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Russell Martin with Richard Gough
Sharing an image with Martin on his Instagram account, Gough wrote: "Met this man this morning to wish him well at our football club.
"Terrific fella.
"I hope he gets the support he needs to get us back to where we belong."
Martin is paid to make the big calls and that job started in earnest this week when he had to reveal his 25-man squad list to take on the Greeks.
Both Cyriel Dessers and Hamza Igamane were included, despite being linked with moves away.
But Ben Davies, Ridvan Yilmaz and Robin Propper have all been left OUT as was Rabbi Matondo who is currently nursing an injury.
New £3.5million man Thelo Aasgaard has been included despite the fact injury may prevent him from featuring in the first leg - with Martin admitting today the player is "touch and go" for the first game.
He said: "It's disappointing for him and for us. Everything we thought we were getting from him and more.
"His athleticism, the power he's got and more. He really is an exciting player for us, It has been high demands for him in pre-season and he has picked up something.
"He is going to be touch and go, we hope he is going to be involved but if not he will be raring to go for the second one."
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Martin says most recent arrival Djeidi Gassama won't be ready to start the first game but will play a part and will be ready for the second match.
He said: "Gassama is a little bit behind. He's not ready to start the game but he's totally different to anything we've got.
"He's unpredictable, he's a fantastic one vs one specialist. He has real individual talent and we are convinced within our team work and our structure he will stand out and create moments that are really brilliant.
"He will be in the squad and definitely ready to go in the second game. First game we might have to manage his minutes."
Martin reckons the adrenaline will help get the players through.
He said: "They're in a good place physically, a much better place where we were three or four weeks ago, tactically definitely in a much better place. Now we need to be ready for whatever else the game throws at us."
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