John Souttar footage shows ‘Huge’ Rangers blow in injury update
Rangers have suffered a “huge blow” after John Souttar went off injured in their Europa League clash with Tottenham, Neil McCann has said.
Speaking on BBC Sportsound (12 December, 8:34pm), McCann worried for Souttar after he looked to have pulled a muscle after making a simple pass in the 1-1 draw; hitting the deck immediately.
The 28-year-old was unable to continue as Leon Balogun replaced him late in the first half at Ibrox, as McCann wondered what this would mean for the Gers with the League Cup Final coming up on Sunday.
McCann said: “He just took a seat just out of the corner of my eye when I was watching that ball get slung in from Yilmaz,” he said. “This would be a huge blow and not just for tonight.”
After watching new footage of the incident, he added: “It doesn’t even look as if he’s rolled it, I think he’s done.”
John Souttar injury could leave Rangers wide open against Celtic
While the Gers went into half-time goalless and were the better side for much of the game despite losing Souttar midway through, losing this season’s best player will be a bitter blow for Philippe Clement.
Souttar’s form so far this term has seen him become one of the first names on the team sheet for both the Light Blues and Scotland, and without the centre-back, Clement’s side are much, much weaker.
The Belgian may have reliable veteran Balogun to call upon, but the Nigerian and Souttar’s starting partner against Spurs, Robin Propper, have barely played together this term.
That’s due to Souttar being almost ever-present in Clement’s first-choice team, but if the Scot is indeed “done” with an Old Firm cup final on the horizon, the Gers boss must find a solution quickly.
Balogun and Propper will likely be the partnership at Hampden Park if Souttar’s muscle injury rules him out of contention, but given the latter’s form this season, Celtic will be licking their lips at that prospect.
In other Rangers news, one player’s return from injury at Auchenhowie gives Clement the perfect chance to cash in this January.
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