John Souttar Rangers Injury Blow Softened by Imminent Return of £10m Ibrox Duo
Rangers have been dealt a setback with the news that defender John Souttar will miss this weekend’s clash with St Mirren due to a fresh injury. However, the disappointment has been tempered by encouraging updates on the fitness of two key players—Danilo and Oscar Cortes—whose combined value to the Ibrox club is estimated at £10 million.
Souttar, who had only recently returned from a calf injury that sidelined him for six weeks, was forced off during the second half of Rangers’ 3-1 victory over Hearts. While the nature of the injury has not been detailed, manager Philippe Clement confirmed that it is not expected to be long-term. Nevertheless, the absence of the experienced centre-back comes at a less-than-ideal time as Rangers continue to navigate a packed fixture list across domestic and European competitions.
The silver lining for Rangers comes in the form of Danilo and Cortes, two high-profile signings who are finally nearing full fitness. Danilo, who joined from Feyenoord last summer in a deal worth around £6 million, has been recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in January. Clement revealed that the Brazilian striker is now back in full training and available for selection, offering a timely boost to the attacking options.
Colombian winger Oscar Cortes, on loan from French side Lens with a permanent move lined up for the summer, has also resumed training after an injury-riddled spell. Valued at around £4 million, Cortes has struggled to get a consistent run in the side but could yet play a pivotal role in the business end of the campaign as he builds up match fitness.
Clement also provided an update on other injury concerns, confirming that Leon Balogun, Dujon Sterling, and Connor Barron remain unavailable. However, there’s optimism that several of them could return to training within the next week, adding further depth to the squad.
With Rangers set to face Turkish giants Fenerbahce in the Europa League Round of 16 and the Premiership title race heating up, the return of Danilo and Cortes couldn’t come at a better time. While Souttar’s injury is a blow, the imminent availability of two influential players could be crucial in maintaining momentum on multiple fronts.
