Rangers given major Fenerbahce boost as Sky Sports footage emerges from Auchenhowie
Rangers could be set to welcome back a key player against Fenerbahce on Thursday after what was spotted at Auchenhowie.
Barry Ferguson’s players face a difficult first leg in their Europa League last 16 tie in Istanbul against Jose Mourinho’s side, having seen their domestic form fall off a cliff since their last match on the continent.
Since beating Union SG on 30 January to finish in the top eight of the competition’s league phase, Rangers have lost three of their last six matches, including at home to Queen’s Park in the Scottish Cup.
That maiden home loss to lower-league opposition and a 2-0 defeat to St Mirren at Ibrox spelled the end for Philippe Clement, meaning interim manager Ferguson will come up against the legendary Mourinho.
Rangers receive John Souttar boost ahead of Fenerbahce clash
Rangers suffering three straight home losses since that victory over Union SG has come off the back of a host of defensive injuries, with defender John Souttar absent since a mid-February with a groin injury.
| Player | Appearances | Starts | Games Missed | Goals | Clean Sheets |
| John Souttar | 29 | 27 | 16 | 1 | 14 |
However, reporting live from Auchenhowie (5 March, 09:34am), Sky Sports News journalist Luke Shanley reported that both Souttar and John Balogun are back in full training ahead of the trip to Fenerbahce.
Speaking over footage shared on X, Shanley said: “They’re boosted, because out there is John Souttar training.
“He’s been a big miss through injury – he’ll be very good at the back if Rangers can get him [ready].”
Souttar return a significant boost for Rangers v Fenerbahce
There’s few Light Blues fans who would deny that when Souttar is in the side, Rangers are a markedly better team that is far more solid in defence and better equipped to deal with set-pieces at both ends.
Though Souttar was part of the backline which was on the end of that history-making defeat to Queen’s Park, his absences against St Mirren and Motherwell in the Saturdays since have certainly been felt.
Both Clinton Nsiala and Robin Propper have faced heavy scrutiny for their displays in both games – and the Gers’ 4-2 win at Kilmarnock between them – with the defeat to the Buddies costing Clement his job.
Souttar and Balogun potentially returning in Istanbul would provide Ferguson with a massive uplift, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be able to make use of both defenders for the first time in his Rangers tenure.