Ibrox fans have reached with trademark fury to the news that John Souttar delayed surgery for a hernia until after Scotland’s meaningless friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein.
On the day that UEFA paired Russell Martin’s side with Panathinaikos in the Champions League Second Round qualifier it emerged that there are serious doubts over whether his most experienced central defender will be available for those matches.
Souttar played on through the SPFL dead rubbers up until the 2-2 draw away to Hibs on May 17 that triggered a flurry of statements about the SFA, defending John Brown over his ‘emotional’ claim about corruption.
At some point the former Hearts defender discovered that he required surgery but played matches on May 11, 14 and 17 then took a short break before making himself available for Scotland, scoring against Iceland on June 6 then sitting on the bench away to Liechtenstein three days later.
After that he underwent hernia surgery, the rehab is 4-6 weeks meaning that he will miss a chunk of pre-season with his place in the match at home to Panathinaikos on July 22/23 in doubt.
There isn’t much sympathy for big Soapy on-line tonight!
And whoever at the club at the end of last season has allowed this situation to arise is also a fucking idiot.
— Empire (@Empire1872) June 18, 2025
Somewhere inside the 2012 Tribute Act someone decided to OK Souttar to play for Scotland knowing that it would put a question mark over his place in the Champions League in doubt.
Breaking the news tonight in the Daily Record Keith Jackson certainly wasn’t amused!
John Souttar is racing to be fit in time for next month’s Champions League clash with Panathinaikos after delaying summer surgery to team up with the Scotland squad.
Record Sport understands the 28-year-old went under the knife in London last week to have an ongoing hernia issue fixed after returning to the UK following a friendly international double header against Iceland and Liechtenstein.
But he is now up against the clock with little over one month to go before the Greeks arrive in Glasgow for the first leg of a multi-million pound qualification showdown at Ibrox.
And the news will have come as an unwelcome surprise for new Rangers boss Russell Martin who may want to know why the club’s medical team allowed his key centre half to put off the surgery for three full weeks in the first place.
With Leon Balogun freed at the end of last season Martin inherits central defensive options of Souttar, Ben Davies, Robin Propper and Leon King.
Propper has a deal in place to return to FC Twente who are just waiting on the fee to fall or be written off, Davies is considered as the ultimate wet wipe by most red blooded bears while King is suffering long term PTSD from his 2022 Champions League campaign.
Clinton Nsiala was hailed as the next Virgil van Dijk but didn’t last beyond the half hour mark in Barry Ferguson’s first match which highlights the madness in delaying Souttar’s surgery.
Three goalkeepers pulled out of Steve Clarke’s squad for meaningless matches but the former Hearts man put country before club while other internationalists enjoyed an extra fortnight on holiday.
With a year left on his Ibrox contract it appears that Souttar felt that a couple of international caps will look good on his CV as his agent tries to secure a new contract elsewhere, last summer Souttar was left out of the Scotland squad for the 2024 European Championships in Germany.
Should be shown the door.🚪
— Machiavelli (@ProcurementBus1) June 18, 2025
Shouldn’t be offered an extension anyway, his ability seems suited to a more rudimentary style despite occasionally (mostly for Scotland) looking excellent going forward. Crackpot decision (regardless of my opinion on his future) with a completely new leadership team just in.
— henry (@henry5555555) June 18, 2025
He’s a disgrace for going , reminds me of Alfredo going to Columbia and being injured
— Red White and Blue Rangers (@RangersRWB) June 18, 2025
Couldn’t agree more, he’s already injury prone and won’t have a proper preseason either so he will be injured half the season as well.
— Squint Westwood 🎸🧩 💙🏴🇬🇧💙🧩 🎸 (@ShaysDa12) June 18, 2025
Couldn’t agree more. Stupid decision to put off surgery to play two meaningless friendlies and risk further injury.
— 🏴ＢＥＡＲ🇬🇧 (@RangersBear55) June 18, 2025
110% agree. Shocking decision.
— WeAreRangers🇬🇧 (@stemcc55) June 18, 2025
Get him on the transfer list, dereliction of duty!!!!!
— Bing bong (@shepp83_john) June 18, 2025
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