There was a time in the midway point of the season where Rangers fans had already begun to give up on the John Souttar experiment before it had even started.
Having started the first game of the season against Livingston, the defender is one of several players, and several summer signings, who’ve spent the bulk of a disappointing season on the sidelines.
Rangers’ injury record is a bad joke at this point and there can be no argument that a lack of options has severely impacted this season and has Ibrox supporters ready to rip up contracts.
But that old cliche about returning injured players being like new signings is especially true of John Souttar, who has the somewhat ironic position of actually being a new signing.
John Souttar to be like a “new signing” for Rangers
Coming off the bench in the 3-1 Premiership victory over Kilmarnock last weekend, the defender continued his recovery with yet more minutes from the bench in the 3-0 Scottish Cup win over Raith Rovers.
It’s a promising sign that perhaps those Rangers grumbles about signing John Souttar, a player whose career has been defined by injury, can finally go quiet. But we’ll need to wait and see.
If the Scotland international defender can stay fit, it also presents Michael Beale with an interesting tactical dilemma.
John Souttar, 26, is unlikely to dislodge vice-captain Connor Goldson, who plays in his natural position, but the defender has had some extensive experience in a back three at Tynecastle.
Can Souttar inspire tactical switch?
A defensive trio of John Souttar, Connor Goldson and Ben Davies does at least sound promising, with the club still conceding too many weak goals and especially vulnerable from low cross balls.
Wing-back options such as James Tavernier and Ridvan Yilmaz also represent an interesting dynamic, whilst the fresh energy in midfield brought by Nicolas Raskin and Todd Cantwell could work in a more creative middle three.
Combine this with all that Michael Beale talk about playing two strikers, and suddenly a 3-5-2 looks a genuine option as Rangers look to evolve heading into next season.
For a player who has been so unreliable with injury however, John Souttar would need to first prove his fitness at Rangers because on paper at least he is a pivotal part of this proposed set-up.
That’s no mean feat for a player who has been desperately unlucky in his career and who now faces an uphill battle to lift the doom and gloom which hangs over the Ibrox medical department.
Meanwhile, Castore have signed a new partnership south of the border.
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