Rangers Dealt New Setback as John Souttar Faces Latest Injury Concern
Rangers have been hit with another injury concern as defender John Souttar is set to miss the upcoming fixture against St Mirren. The Scottish international, who only recently returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a calf issue, suffered a fresh setback during the recent 3-1 win over Hearts. This news adds to the club’s growing list of absentees and comes at a crucial point in the season.
Souttar’s previous injury, sustained in a 1-1 Europa League draw against Tottenham Hotspur back in December, had kept him out of action for six weeks. He made his return as a substitute in the 1-0 victory over Union Saint Gilloise on January 30—a result that secured Rangers’ place in the Europa League Round of 16. Since then, he had made two consecutive starts in the Scottish Premiership, even netting a goal against Ross County and seeing another effort disallowed versus Hearts.
However, his progress has hit a speed bump. Rangers manager Philippe Clement confirmed that Souttar had to be withdrawn in the 77th minute of the Hearts match due to this new injury. Fortunately, the club does not believe the issue to be long-term. This will also come as a relief for Scotland boss Steve Clarke, with important Nations League play-offs on the horizon next month.
Speaking to the media ahead of the St Mirren game, Clement also addressed the status of other sidelined players. Brazilian forward Danilo has returned to full training and is now available for selection, following a shoulder injury picked up against Aberdeen on January 15. Meanwhile, Colombian winger Oscar Cortes, who has struggled with fitness since his loan return from Lens, has also resumed training, although he is still working towards full match readiness.
In addition to Souttar, Rangers will be without Leon Balogun, Dujon Sterling, and Connor Barron for the St Mirren clash. Clement remains hopeful that some of them could be back in training by the end of the following week. Despite the squad challenges, there was a buzz of anticipation surrounding the club’s Europa League draw, which will see Rangers face Turkish giants Fenerbahce, managed by the illustrious Jose Mourinho.
Reflecting on the matchup, Clement acknowledged the pedigree of both the club and its manager. He praised Mourinho’s track record and emphasized the quality of Fenerbahce’s squad. With both sides boasting passionate fanbases and deep European experience, the upcoming tie promises to be a compelling contest.
