Rangers’ recent run has given Derek McInnes little reason to change his starting midfield. The team have gone eleven matches without defeat, winning eight, and the manager has consistently backed the players delivering results. That success, however, has left limited opportunities for those outside his preferred group.
Dan Neil and Nicolas Raskin have received McInnes’s strongest backing, while Tochi Chukwuani has spent much of the campaign waiting on the bench. Neil has looked somewhat uncomfortable in a midfield two, yet the manager continues to trust his established options. At Hampden, James Penrice was even selected as the midfield replacement, another decision that left a young arrival waiting.
For one summer signing, the lack of involvement has become particularly noticeable. Since Rangers’ defeat against Jablonec, he has managed just a single substitute appearance, with little opportunity to improve his standing in the squad. His absence has become a talking point as the campaign progresses.
According to a report published by Ibrox News via Yahoo Sports, citing Calum Crowe of the Daily Mail, Vanja Dragojevic is experiencing a prolonged snub at Rangers. The 20-year-old Serbian midfielder joined from Partizan Belgrade in the summer for a fee of roughly £4 million. He arrived at Ibrox with a considerable reputation, having represented Serbia at full international level and previously captained his boyhood club.
Despite that background, Dragojevic has struggled to secure regular minutes. The report says he has made only one substitute appearance since the Jablonec defeat, leaving him on the bench alongside Chukwuani as McInnes continues to favour Neil and Raskin. His omission reflects the intense competition for places at Ibrox rather than a lack of promise.
There is still considerable belief in the midfielder behind the scenes. Rangers reportedly regard Dragojevic as an undeniable talent, although he remains very raw. An outstanding long-range volley against St Mirren earlier in the campaign offered a glimpse of his quality, but that moment has not translated into regular involvement. Being overlooked for Penrice at Hampden represented another minor setback.
Dragojevic has reportedly responded with an excellent attitude. Rather than demanding immediate rewards, he has kept his head down and continued working hard at the Auchenhowie training ground. The report suggests Neil’s discomfort in a midfield two could eventually create more opportunities for the Serbian, although McInnes has yet to alter his selection.
For now, Dragojevic continues to work patiently, with the report indicating that the door at Rangers remains open. McInnes has little incentive to disrupt a midfield that has delivered such consistent results, but Neil’s recent discomfort also gives the manager something to consider.
Dragojevic still needs time to develop, yet his £4 million arrival was never meant to end with occasional appearances from the bench. Rangers have invested in a midfielder they believe can become an important player, and giving him meaningful minutes will eventually matter as much as keeping faith with those currently delivering.
