Rangers: Recent John Souttar developments at Ibrox after Hearts move delights BBC pundit
Derek Ferguson is delighted to finally see John Souttar making his way at Rangers properly after a rough time with injuries.
The defender arrived on a free transfer from Hearts ahead of last season but only ended up making a total of 13 appearances in all competitions after missing around seven months of action with an ankle injury in his debut campaign.
His absences contributed to an unsettled centre-back picture at Ibrox for a long time, but this term he has now established himself as the clear number two alongside Connor Goldson for Philippe Clement and, given his English central partner’s struggles, has arguably been the more consistent.
BBC Sport pundit Ferguson believes it’s not before time but hopes he has done enough to get himself a place in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the summer, although he isn’t ready to call time on Goldson’s role in the side just yet.
He exclusively told Ibrox News: “It’s about time for Souttar. He’s had his injury problems but I’m so glad to see him fit and getting loads of games under his belt.
“Good player, Souttar, and hopefully he’ll be in that Euros squad. But I’d be inclined to keep Goldson to be honest with you.”
John Souttar emergence at Rangers not the end for Connor Goldson?
If Leon Balogun was a few years younger he’d be in with a strong shout of being a regular, but as he is turning 36 in June he may not even get a contract extension.
Souttar’s arrival from Tynecastle was always supposed to add an established SPFL starter to the line-up, but the endless injury problems that seem to interminably effect new Rangers signings were perhaps never going to avoid a man who had already had issues in Edinburgh.
It even took Souttar, 27, a couple of months to break into Clement’s line up with regularity after the Belgian arrived, but a campaign that has seen him make 33 total appearances so far and start the past 16 in a row in all competitions has been very encouraging, and there is now a decent argument to say he is currently the Gers’ top man at the position.
And if Ben Davies leaves this summer the manager is likely to add more competition so there could be change on the horizon still.
In other Rangers news, an expected Ibrox exit has now been interrupted by changing rules.
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