Ally McCoist fumes at Rangers star who 'refused to come on' as substitute amid transfer interest

Ally McCoist has blasted the situation at former club Rangers, where Hamza Igamane refused to come on claiming he was injured.

After losing 3-1 to Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off, Rangers could only manage a 1-1 draw with St Mirren at the weekend.

Russell Martin's side started without a recognised striker, with midfielder Thelo Aasgaard filling up top as 18-year-old Findlay Curtis scored a late equaliser.

Igamane looked to be an attacking option from the bench but was not introduced, with Martin later revealing that he told him he suffered a quadricep injury in the warm-up and so wasn't fit to come on.

Igamane has been the subject of interest from French side Lille, who tabled a bid that was rejected by the Scottish giants.

Hamza Igamane told Russell Martin he was not fit for a cameo. Image: Getty

“I wanted to bring him on around 60 minutes, and he said he has a sore quad so he can’t come on," Martin said post-match.

"He wouldn’t be on the bench if he’s not fit. So he said he’d done it warming up.

“We turned down a bid this week, but we’ll assess his injury and I have to trust Hamza so we’ll see what happens. As a human being I have to trust that he has done it in the warm-up like he said and we’ll see.”

McCoist weighs in on Rangers controversy

Martin added that he remains "quite calm" about the situation involving the Morocco international, though Rangers legend McCoist weighed in with his thoughts on the tricky predicament.

Though he acknowledged proving any kind of wrongdoing from Igamane is difficult, he does believe the 22-year-old wants to leave.

Igamane is wanted by French side Lille. Image: Getty

"It's a tough one, right? Because we've all got an opinion on it, but effectively we don't know," McCoist said on talkSPORT.

"If he says he's injured himself in the warm-up, there's not a lot you can do about it, right?

"I find it very, very strange, you know, at that particular time. But I'm talking to you as a man who has effectively injured himself in a warm-up of a cup final and had to pull out.

"So, it can happen. But there's just something not right about it. See if he's not injured, you fine him as much as you possibly can.

"I don't want to contradict myself regarding the Isak situation, but it's appalling.

"If he is fit to play and he said, 'No, I'm injured, I'm not going on,' then that's diabolical. To tell you the truth, it's absolutely diabolical.

"But it's a very, very difficult thing to prove. The bottom line is, I don't know.

"The lad might have injured himself in the warm-up, and if that's the case, as I say, I've done it myself. So, it is possible. But you can tell he wants away."

Martin is still searching for his first league win as Rangers boss, having drawn all three opening games.

Sunday could be the ideal time to pick up a first three points, with Rangers hosting Celtic in the first Old Firm derby of the season.