Godwin ObajeRussell Martin Hit by John Souttar Injury Blow Ahead of Rangers’ Champions League Clash
Rangers manager Russell Martin has been dealt a major early blow in his preparations for the new season, with key centre-back John Souttar now racing against time to be fit for next month’s high-stakes Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos.
The Scotland international underwent hernia surgery in London last week after linking up with Steve Clarke’s national squad for a post-season double-header, and is now in a race to recover before the Greek giants arrive in Glasgow for the first leg of the second qualifying round.
Record Sport understands Souttar delayed the operation—originally scheduled for the end of Rangers’ Premiership campaign—to fulfil international duties. The 28-year-old played the full 90 minutes and scored in a 3-1 defeat to Iceland on June 6, before being named an unused substitute in a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein just three days later.
Following the friendlies, Souttar flew to London for what’s been described as “routine repair work,” before heading to Portugal to begin rehabilitation. However, the timing of the procedure has now raised concerns within Ibrox, as the first leg of the club’s multi-million-pound Champions League showdown is little more than a month away.
The situation is a headache for Martin, who was officially unveiled earlier this month and is relying on Souttar as a central part of his defensive plans heading into a critical European campaign.
“Martin is hoping for his recruitment team to oversee a huge rebuild over the summer,” the article notes, “but the clock is already ticking down towards his first game in charge with a £60million-plus UEFA jackpot on the line.”
It is understood the new Rangers boss is seeking clarity over why the club’s medical department allowed the defender to postpone his surgery until after international duty, rather than addressing the issue immediately following the final league match against Hibernian on May 17.
“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.”
The setback threatens to leave Rangers worryingly short of proven defensive options ahead of one of their most financially significant fixtures in recent history. Martin has already expressed the need for major reinforcements this summer, and with the Champions League qualifiers looming, the pressure is mounting to secure depth across the backline.
With European qualification worth an estimated £60m, the stakes could not be higher. Souttar’s availability, or lack thereof, could have serious implications—not just on the pitch but on the club’s financial projections for the season ahead.
Rangers now face an anxious wait to see if the experienced centre-half can recover in time. As Martin begins to shape his side in earnest, this early setback serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that lie ahead.
Godwin Obaje
