Latest news with #RussellMartin
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Martin expects Souttar to be fit for Panathinaikos tie
Rangers manager Russell Martin expects John Souttar to be fit for the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos after the defender had a "minor operation". Souttar reportedly delayed the hernia surgery so he could feature for Scotland in their end-of-season friendly double-header. The 28-year-old started the defeat by against Iceland and was an unused substitute in the win over Liechtenstien. Advertisement Rangers host Panathinaikos in a second-round qualifier on 22-23 July, with the return leg in Greece the following week. "John made a decision. He had a bit of minor injury, he wanted to go and play because he's desperate to play for his country which I admire," Martin told Sky Sports. "So the plan was here, and everyone was aware of it, to get sorted after that so he has had a minor operation. "We expect him to be fit for the Panathinaikos game so it hasn't really affected preparations." Rangers open the league season with a trip to face Motherwell and Martin said: "It's [a win] really important for us, for the supporters, for the club, but also it's not going to define our season. Advertisement "So we have to make sure that we are ready to perform in the European game before that, we have to make sure we're then ready again to go. "We have a lot of work to do physically and tactically. The players haven't even been in the building yet, they come back on Monday which I'm really excited about, but now we have something to really work towards and it's going to be great." Motherwell's new boss Jens Berthel Askou is a former Norwich City team-mate of Martin. "We've exchanged messages this morning," said Martin. "Knowing Jens and how intense he was about his work as a player and how he is as a person, seriously professional, intelligent, he'll have them very well organised and prepared so we have to make sure we are ready for any challenge."
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Rangers transfers: Russell Martin reveals timeline for 'exciting' new arrivals plus updates on Cyriel Dessers and John Souttar
Head coach expects new faces for Champions League qualifier Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Rangers head coach Russell Martin has revealed that he expects new signings to arrive in time for the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos next month. Martin will begin his tenure against the Greek side in the second qualiyfing round of Uefa's elite competition with the first leg at Ibrox on Tuesday, July 22 following by the return in Athens a week later. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The former MK Dons, Swansea, Southampton boss hopes to hit the ground running and expects his cause to be helped by new arrivals ahead of the European showdown. Russell Martin expects Rangers to make new signings before the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group Asked by Sky Sports how many ins and outs he is anticipating this summer, Martin said: "I honestly don't know but I think we'll have a few [in] before the European game, that'll be for sure. Everyone is working extremely hard. The bulk of work over the past week or so has been identifying character and talent that we want in the building that can add to this group and add to us culturally and in terms of performance. I'm excited about the people we're starting to look at, and hopefully will add." Martin expects striker Cyriel Dessers to report back for the start of pre-season training on Monday despite reports linking last season's Scottish Premiership top scorer with a move to AEK Athens. "The updates will come as and when they are actually real," Martin said. "At the minute, I'm expecting hom to return on Monday and I'm looking forward to working with him." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rangers defender John Souttar in action for Scotland during the international friendly against Iceland at Hampden Park on June 6. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group The Rangers boss also confirmed that defender John Souttar will be fit to face Panathaniakos after delaying surgery on a hernia issue until after the Scotland international friendlies.
BBC News
an hour ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Derbies & festive schedule - Rangers' standout games
The first Old Firm derby of the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership season will be at Ibrox on Sunday, 31 August. Russell Martin's side host Celtic in a 12:00 BST travel to Celtic Park on Saturday, 3 January for the new year derby and the Glasgow rivals' final pre-split meeting is pencilled in for Saturday, 28 about the festive schedule? Rangers' last match before Christmas is away to Hearts on Saturday, 20 December then Martin's men round off 2025 with home games against Motherwell and St complete the pre-split campaign away to newly-promoted Falkirk on Saturday, 11 at the fixture list, where do you think Rangers will be after 10 games? Have your say here.
BBC News
an hour ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Martin expects Souttar to be fit for Panathinaikos tie
Rangers manager Russell Martin expects John Souttar to be fit for the Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos after the defender had a "minor operation".Souttar reportedly delayed the hernia surgery, external so he could feature for Scotland in their end-of-season friendly double-header. The 28-year-old started the defeat by against Iceland and was an unused substitute in the win over host Panathinaikos in a second-round qualifier on 22-23 July, with the return leg in Greece the following week."John made a decision. He had a bit of minor injury, he wanted to go and play because he's desperate to play for his country which I admire," Martin told Sky Sports."So the plan was here, and everyone was aware of it, to get sorted after that so he has had a minor operation."We expect him to be fit for the Panathinaikos game so it hasn't really affected preparations."Rangers open the league season with a trip to face Motherwell and Martin said: "It's [a win] really important for us, for the supporters, for the club, but also it's not going to define our season."So we have to make sure that we are ready to perform in the European game before that, we have to make sure we're then ready again to go."We have a lot of work to do physically and tactically. The players haven't even been in the building yet, they come back on Monday which I'm really excited about, but now we have something to really work towards and it's going to be great."Motherwell's new boss Jens Berthel Askou is a former Norwich City team-mate of Martin."We've exchanged messages this morning," said Martin."Knowing Jens and how intense he was about his work as a player and how he is as a person, seriously professional, intelligent, he'll have them very well organised and prepared so we have to make sure we are ready for any challenge."
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers and Celtic left facing awkward stick or twist fixture dilemma after major SPFL rule change
IT'S something the hierarchies at Rangers, Celtic and other Scottish Premiership clubs have long been publicly demanding of league bosses: give us more help in Europe. Well, now they've given that help - and the 2025-26 season promises to be the acid test of how it works in practice. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Brendan Rodgers Credit: Kenny Ramsay 4 Rangers FC press conference for new head coach Russell Martin Credit: Willie Vass That's because league bosses quietly introduced a new rule this season which allows all teams involved in European playoff round clashes to request postponements of their Scottish Premiership matchday 3 clash on the weekend of August 23/24. But with that fixture falling just seven days before the first Old Firm match of the season, it remains to be seen whether Rangers or Celtic take them up on it. It's no co-incidence why the rule has come into force this season - with both halves of the Old Firm needing to get through the playoff round if they are to reach the Champions League after drops to Scotland's coefficient meant the loss of an automatic spot. Hibs, Dundee Utd and Aberdeen, of course, could all take advantage of the rule too - with perhaps the safest bet all season being that Jimmy Thelin's Dons (already in the Europa League playoffs) choose to postpone their matchday 3 clash that weekend AGAINST Dundee Utd. Hibs, too, could see merit in pushing their trip to Falkirk back if they can make it past FC Midjyjtlland to reach that far. We already know for sure that Celtic will be involved in the Champions League playoff round on the Champions Path, giving them a game on either the Tuesday or Wednesday that week ahead of the Old Firm. The situation with Rangers is more complicated. While they too will still hope to be riding high in the Champions League qualifiers - where they likes of Benfica or Club Brugge are potential opponents - they could also end up in a Thursday night clash in the Europa League or even Conference League playoffs that week. Alternatively, were they to WIN their opening Champions League qualifier vs Panathinaikos then LOSE - they could be spared the chore of a playoff round clash altogether and drop straight from the UCL 3rd qualifying round direct into the Europa League groups. But after today's fixture reveal, we now know what both sides will face on matchday 3. Celtic transfer special - Nygren in and Kyogo to return And on the face of it Rangers have been handed a far tougher fixture, away to St Mirren in Paisley. Over to Russell Martin then to decide whether he thinks it serves his team's interests better to postpone their trip to Paisley in order to prioritise his team's prep for a potential playoff round clash. 4 Celtic will surely fancy their chances of taking care of Livingston at home even if it means making a number of changes due to their European commitments. Depending on what happens in the early part of the season Martin, therefore, must weigh up the possibility of dropping three points behind Celtic at this stage of the campaign - particularly with the first Old Firm game of the season just a matter of days away. Dropping a distance behind the Hoops so early in the season will be something he won't want to contemplate. 4 Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
