John Souttar's absence mystery deepens after Rangers announcement
John Souttar's situation at Rangers has just gotten stranger.
The defender fell out of favour under Danny Rohl towards the end of last season.
However, he had a chance to revive his Ibrox spell with the appointment of Derek McInnes.
Souttar was away on World Cup duty with Scotland, but he was set to return to action on 15 July after his 21-day mandated FIFA break.
That appears to not be the case for the 24-cap international, as he does not look set to come back into training.
McInnes is about to take the Gers squad to Spain, but Souttar has been left out.
Why is John Souttar missing from Rangers pre-season squad?
Souttar's absence is bizarre as he would have been expected to come back into the fold on Wednesday.
However, he was not part of the travelling squad for the trip to the Iberian Peninsula.
That will only leave questions over his status under McInnes, as there has been no update on why he is absent.
Injury would be an obvious concern, as he missed nine games last season for club and country with a muscle issue.
It could also just be tiredness or a precaution but the mystery will remain until the club clarify what is happening.
Why 2026-27 season is vital for Souttar's Rangers future
Souttar would have hoped to have made an immediate impact on the new boss, due to his prospects at club and country level.
His contract expires at the end of the campaign, so it will be make or break, as he will either earn a new deal or be allowed to move on.
He will likely want to stay at Auchenhowie, given that he is playing for one of the two big clubs in Scotland and is regularly being called up to the national team as a result.
If he has to leave and play for a lower ranked club, it will surely affect his standing, especially after Steve Clarke left his post.
A new international manager may decide that Souttar is no longer needed if he can't prove his fitness for the Light Blues, and is forced to depart at the end of his current terms.