John Souttar's Rangers future takes fresh twist after exit push - 'It wouldn’t surprise me'

John Souttar has been backed to return to action for Rangers shortly.

The 29-year-old defender has been an outcast under Derek McInnes since he took the reigns at Ibrox.

The 29-cap international missed out on the pre-season training camp in Spain and has not featured in any matches so far this season.

However, it seems like he is set to stay in Govan, after the Scottish transfer window closed on 3 September.

He could move elsewhere, with several countries having longer deadlines, but most of the interest was from England.

Now, a return could be on the cards after the failed transfer push to get him out of the Auchenhowie club.

What has been said about John Souttar's future at Rangers?

McInnes could now opt to bring Souttar back into the mix, after he did not move on.

Keith Jackson, the Daily Record's chief sportswriter, believes that a route back to the first-team may be open for the experienced star.

Speaking on Hotline Live's Transfer Deadline Day show, he said: “That may change now the window has closed, I think they were keen to encourage John Souttar to move on.

“The more I see big Manny Fernandez, the more I’m thinking it wouldn’t surprise me to see Souttar back in that Rangers defence soon.”

It would be a remarkable turnaround for the veteran defender, if he could work his way back into the equation, but it is not exactly far-fetched.

What circumstances could see Souttar return?

Souttar has made 132 appearances so far in his time at Rangers, and he could now expand on that.

He is vastly experienced, with 255 appearances in the Scottish Premiership, 19 games in the Europa League and 12 matches in Champions League qualifying.

Ben Godfrey has just come back from injury, and if he suffers another issue, then the door is open for Souttar to earn his place back in the side.

Emmanuel Fernandez has started the season in dismal form, as Jackson pointed out, and the stats back up that claim.

The Nigerian defender is making just 0.50 tackles and 1.25 interceptions in the current campaign, per Fotmob data.

He nearly put his side in danger with a horrendous pass against Falkirk that forced Ivor Pandur into action to deny a goalscoring opportunity.

It would take a very specific set of circumstances for the Aberdeen-born defender to get himself back into McInnes' plans, but it does not seem too unrealistic at this point.