John Souttar blow to Rangers emerges amid ‘really bad news’ with Scotland
John Souttar has been injured on Scotland duty to hand Danny Rohl a new blow ahead of Rangers’ return to action.
The centre-back was set to win his latest cap for the national team with a place in Steve Clarke’s starting line up for their crucial World Cup qualifier against Denmark on Tuesday.
But he picked up a fitness issue during the warm up at Hampden Park and has been replaced by Hibs’ Grant Hanley.
A win is needed to reach their first World Cup since 1998, or face a play-off, after Souttar was criticised for his role as Scotland lost to Greece on Saturday.
John Souttar injured in Scotland warm up ahead of Denmark clash
Rohl may now be sweating on the fitness of his senior Rangers centre-back before Livingston visit Ibrox on Saturday.
In an update live on Sky Sports News presented Gail Davis said: “The teams are in the tunnel at the moment and some really bad news for Scotland because Scotland centre-back [John] Souttar picked up an injury in the warm up and he’s been replaced by Grant Hanley.”
Scotland showed no signs of being thrown off by Souttar’s absence in the early goings as Napoli star Scott McTominay put the home side ahead with a spectacular overhead kick in just the third minute.
Souttar’s Rangers future is unclear with his contract set to expire in the summer, but he has been ever-present this term aside from missing the League Cup win over Alloa in August.
Derek Cornielius and Nasser Djiga are both on loan at Rangers, but neither have nailed down a spot in the back line.
Rangers defence faces major disruption
Since Rohl took over from Russell Martin he has managed to get things back on track in the Scottish Premiership, if not in Europe.
Souttar struggled as Rangers lost limply to Roma a fortnight ago but it’s three wins on the bounce in the league under the German.
With other central-defensive options flattering to deceive the last thing the needs is disruption to his back line, or the prospect of losing the 29-year-old for any length of time.
If there is to be any weakness in his line up come the weekend then Rohl will at least be thankful to be at home against the league’s bottom side, but in light of how the season has gone so far the Light Blues can’t take anything for granted.
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