As Rangers count the cost of several absences this season, in lieu of the club’s flailing medical department the Gers scored an immense own goal with the signing of John Souttar.
A talented player yes, and someone who fits the homegrown quota on a free contract, John Souttar has unfortunately had a career defined by injury, therefore seemingly making him perfect for Rangers.
The Ibrox recruitment staff, over the last four years in particular, have shown a propensity for signing crocks which is beginning to veer into the ludicrous.
Given the tense injury situation surrounding Filip Helander in particular, the Swedish international finally out of contract at the end of the season after spending the bulk of it sidelined, it is quite remarkable we moved for the ex-Hearts star.
Our Premiership rivals were determined to keep a hold of the player in January after Rangers struck a pre-contract deal, and that backfired as we lost the league title and then were handed a player bereft of fitness.
Couple this with a long overdue injury to Connor Goldson, and the stuttering return to match fitness of Liverpool outcast Ben Davies, and suddenly the John Souttar signing goes from an ill-judged one to an absolute shocker.
John Souttar signing sums up Rangers injury woes
Rangers’ season collapsed as a direct result of the club’s injury woes, particularly at the centre of defence, with all four first choice centre-backs out for a key period of the season.
But with Filip Helander at the club, and John Souttar signed in the summer, Rangers probably deserve everything they get for rolling the dice on yet more crocked players.
The Ibrox side seem to love them; Antonio Colak, Malik Tillman, Rabbi Matondo, Tom Lawrence and Ridvan Yilmaz have also spent time on the sidelines since joining in the summer.
Combine those with the cruciate ligament injury to Ianis Hagi heading into the new season, the constant sick notes that are Kemar Roofe and Ryan Jack and the suggestion that several key players, including James Tavernier and John Lundstram, are playing through the pain barrier, and we have quite a perfect storm brewing.
In fact, it’s already torn through Ibrox and devastated the locals.
Add a potentially career-ending injury to Steven Davis to the mix, as well as Alfredo Morelos’ disastrous recovery from a long-term injury, and suddenly this summer looks like an ill-thought out joke.
John Souttar – who has kicked a ball once this season, in the Premiership opener v Livingston – was perhaps the most predictable of the bunch but this has been woefully mismanaged by everyone at Rangers.
There is still no set date on his return.
The fans deserve better, and as we await the return of several key stars, next season things quite simply have to change.
As a result, Ross Wilson is gearing up for the biggest summer of his Ibrox tenure.