Philippe Clement has revealed that the decision to substitute Rangers playmaker Todd Cantwell and midfielder Nicolas Raskin during the 3-0 victory against Hibs at Easter Road was a precautionary measure.

Both Cantwell and Raskin did not return for the second half, with Tom Lawrence and Dujon Sterling stepping in. These substitutions played a crucial role as Rangers narrowed the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic to five points, with one game in hand.

Despite the mid-match changes, Clement expressed optimism about the injury situation, stating, “It’s too fast to assess that, but it looks okay for the moment, and I hope that is the case tomorrow also.” While Cantwell contributed a notable goal, Clement opted not to take any risks with potential injuries.

Regarding Raskin, Clement explained, “His foot was slipping, and we thought it was because of the tape. We took the tape out, and he still had the same sensations, so you cannot play on one foot.” Hence, the decision to make the halftime substitutions.

Addressing the team’s overall strength, Clement emphasized the impact of substitutes and the need for depth, stating, “The two players who came in had directly an impact on the game, so that needs to be our strength over the next couple of months.”

When asked about potential reinforcements for Rangers, Clement highlighted the need for competitiveness in multiple competitions. He stressed that adding new players doesn’t guarantee automatic playing time, emphasizing that performance in training and commitment to the team are the key factors, irrespective of a player’s age, cost, or contract status.