Latest news with #Souttar
Daily Record
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
John Souttar ignites Rangers return from surgery in Portugal with key step as he fights to star vs Panathinaikos
Souttar finally went under the knife to have repair work carried out on an ongoing hernia issue in London last week John Souttar began light jogging on Thursday as he bids to return to fitness in time for Rangers Champions League showdown with Panathinaikos. Record Sport broke the bombshell news last night that the 28-year-old is already racing against the clock to be available for next month's crunch qualification double header - after delaying surgery to join up with Scotland 's squad for friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein. Souttar finally went under the knife to have repair work carried out on an ongoing hernia issue in London last week - three weeks after the end of his club's domestic season. He is understood to be going through a period of rehabilitation in Portugal with the aim of being given the green light to face the Greeks in the first leg of a potentially £60million tie with the Greeks at Ibrox on July 23. But the decision to push the routine procedure back until after those meaningless internationals has caused outrage among sections of the club's support - and will almost certainly have equally surprised new boss Russell Martin. It's understood the Ibrox club's own medical department signed off on the decision despite the obvious risks involved to Souttar's summer schedule. Experts say the standard recovery period following a hernia op varies between four and six weeks, assuming no setbacks along the way. Which means, even without any unexpected complications, Souttar is likely to be touch and go for Martin's first game since his appointment as head coach. We can reveal Souttar was operated on on Wednesday of last week, after returning to the UK following a 4-0 romp in Vaduz on Monday night. He sat on Steve Clarke's bench for that game as an unused sub but did play the full 90 minutes of a 3-1 defeat against Iceland at Hampden three nights earlier, scoring Scotland's only goal. Club sources insist Souttar should still be able to face Panathinaikos so long as his recuperation goes to plan without any hitches. And the initial indications appear to be positive given that Souttar was able to start jogging yesterday - just one week after climbing off the surgeon's table. But it still seems like an extraordinary gamble given the player's back catalogue of injury issues, which have plagued his career and limited his appearances in a Rangers shirt to just 68 games in his three seasons at Ibrox. When fit, Souttar is regarded by most as the club's most dependable central defensive option and his partnership with Leon Balogun became a cornerstone of the side which interim boss Barry Ferguson oversaw during the final three months of last season. But veteran Balogun was allowed to leave as a free agent after the club decided against offering him a new deal and Souttar - who has one year left to run on his own contract - has also not been tied down long term. If the former Hearts defender fails to beat the clock over the next five weeks, then new boss Martin could be left scrambling for defensive cover. A major overhaul of the squad is expected over the close season but, as things stand, Martin's only recognised options in central defence are Robin Propper, Clinton Nsiala, Ben Davies and Leon King. Propper is on the brink of a quick-fire return to Twente Enschede after a dismal first season in Scottish football, while Nsiala also failed to nail down a regular place throughout his first campaign at the club. Davies and King, meanwhile, will return to Auchenhowie on Monday morning after falling so far out of the first team picture that they farmed out on loan last term.
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
John Souttar Rangers injury latest after recent surgery
Russell Martin will meet his squad for the first time at the club's training centre on Monday morning. However, while he may be present in the building, Souttar will play no part in training, having undergone a hernia operation in London last week. Souttar played the season to its conclusion for Rangers before pulling on a Scotland jersey in the latest set of international fixtures in June. While the timing of his surgery is perhaps surprising, Souttar is understood to be on track to return to first-team training in enough time to prepare him for the Champions League second-round qualifier against Panathinaikos. The first leg against the Greek side will take place at Ibrox on either July 22 or 23, with the Glasgow giants travelling for the return leg a week later.
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
John Souttar Rangers injury latest after recent surgery
However, while he may be present in the building, Souttar will play no part in training, having undergone a hernia operation in London last week. Souttar played the season to its conclusion for Rangers before pulling on a Scotland jersey in the latest set of international fixtures in June. While the timing of his surgery is perhaps surprising, Souttar is understood to be on track to return to first-team training in enough time to prepare him for the Champions League second-round qualifier against Panathinaikos. The first leg against the Greek side will take place at Ibrox on either July 22 or 23, with the Glasgow giants travelling for the return leg a week later.
The National
2 days ago
- Sport
- The National
John Souttar Rangers injury latest after recent surgery
Russell Martin will meet his squad for the first time at the club's training centre on Monday morning. However, while he may be present in the building, Souttar will play no part in training, having undergone a hernia operation in London last week. Souttar played the season to its conclusion for Rangers before pulling on a Scotland jersey in the latest set of international fixtures in June. While the timing of his surgery is perhaps surprising, Souttar is understood to be on track to return to first-team training in enough time to prepare him for the Champions League second-round qualifier against Panathinaikos. The first leg against the Greek side will take place at Ibrox on either July 22 or 23, with the Glasgow giants travelling for the return leg a week later.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Rangers star ‘in race against time to be fit for Panathinaikos showdown as he DELAYS surgery to represent his country'
RUSSELL MARTIN could be without one of his star men for his first game in charge of Rangers against Panathinaikos next month, according to a report. The Light Blues will kick off the new campaign with a blockbuster Champions League showdown against the Greek side at Ibrox in just over a month's time - and Martin is up against the clock to get new players in the door before then. 1 Russell Martin faces a tricky test in his first game at Ibrox Credit: PA But one of his key defenders is also in a race against time, himself, to be fit for the massive second round qualifier double header, it's being claimed. The Daily Record state that John Souttar is a major doubt for the two massive games after going under the knife in London last week to solve an ongoing hernia issue ahead of the new season. It's suggested the 28-year-old delayed the surgery to represent Scotland in the two friendlies against Iceland and the Faroe Islands this month. Souttar played the full 90 minutes in the woeful 3-1 Hampden defeat to Iceland and was an unused sub in Vaduz. It's believed the centre-back put off the surgery for three weeks, leaving himself with just five weeks to be fit for the first leg clash. The Rangers squad will being returning to the club's Auchenhowie HQ on Monday to start pre-season training under their new boss Martin. Souttar won't be involved in the sessions for some time as medical experts usually set aside a period of between four to six weeks for players to return to full fitness from hernia surgeries. The first leg at Ibrox will be played on either July 22 or 23 with Gers travelling to Greece for the second leg the following week. Greek giants Panathinaikos were perhaps the toughest of the three sides Rangers could have faced, the others being Servette of Switzerland and Brann Bergen of Norway. They haven't met since Walter Smith's side squeezed past the Greeks at the last 16 phase as they went on to book their spot in the Uefa Cup final back in 2008. SunSport understands Rangers are hopeful of bringing in at least FOUR new players before the two games. Max Aarons and Kwame Poku are both closing in on moves to Ibrox. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
