Rangers defender John Souttar is finally set to return to the Ibrox squad this weekend as the club welcome Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.
The Scotland international defender, 26, has spent the season on the sidelines as the club’s transfer policy in signing the injury-prone centre-back comes in for scrutiny.
But after playing in the opening day victory over Livingston, Souttar is now expected to be back in the squad for the visit of Derek McInnes’ side against Rangers.
It’s a boost which is probably too little too late to have any tangible impact on the season, with Ridvan Yilmaz also closing in on a return ahead of our inevitable run of glorified friendlies.
Wahey!
Rangers manager Michael Beale also claimed it is as you were for the remainder of the squad, meaning £3.5m striker Kemar Roofe is once again set to be sidelined with injury for this one. What a laugh!
John Souttar to return to the Rangers squad v Kilmarnock
“Everybody’s fine, so there are no new injuries if you like,” said Michael Beale.
“John Souttar will return to the squad, Yilmaz probably needs to play a reserve game with a view to coming back in either mid-week or coming back in for the Raith Rovers Scottish Cup game.
“We actually had 24 players fit and training the three days into the cup final, so it’s amazing, the cup final comes around and everybody’s fit and available.
“But I mean that tongue-in-cheek. It’s nice to have everybody back out fit and moving forward. Of those that played in the game, there are a couple of aches and pains, but nothing that’s going to stop people from being available.”
Rangers are preparing to welcome Kilmarnock as major doubts persist over this playing squad’s ability to deliver for the expectations set at Ibrox.
Expect the humdrum, gloomy atmosphere to persist over the coming weeks and months and if this squad can’t get a rise out of the fans then, injured or otherwise, they should be someone else’s problem next season.
Meanwhile, those harsh Rangers words from the support can’t be in vain with change needed at Ibrox.
