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Souttar’s Champions League Fitness Race Adds to Martin’s Early Headaches at Rangers
John Souttar is facing a tense battle to regain fitness in time for Rangers’ high-stakes Champions League qualifier against Panathinaikos next month, after opting to postpone a much-needed surgery in order to represent Scotland on international duty.
The 28-year-old defender recently underwent a hernia operation in London, just days after returning from Scotland’s friendly fixtures against Iceland and Liechtenstein. Despite having struggled with the issue, Souttar delayed the procedure for three weeks to participate in the national squad’s preparations — a decision that may frustrate incoming Rangers manager Russell Martin.
With only a little over a month before Panathinaikos arrive at Ibrox for a crucial first-leg encounter that could unlock over £60 million in UEFA prize money, Martin is now nervously monitoring Souttar’s recovery timeline. The club’s medical staff are likely to face scrutiny over why they sanctioned the delay in surgery, potentially jeopardizing a key player’s availability for such a vital fixture.
Souttar had the chance to undergo surgery immediately following Rangers’ final league game — a 2-2 draw against Hibernian on May 17. Instead, he joined Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad, starting and scoring in a 3-1 defeat to Iceland on June 6, before being an unused substitute in the 4-0 win over Liechtenstein three days later.
Following international duty, Souttar traveled to London for what has been described as a routine surgical procedure and has since begun his rehabilitation, reportedly in Portugal. While Rangers’ players are set to report back for pre-season training at Auchenhowie on Monday, Souttar will remain sidelined. Medical guidance typically recommends a four to six-week recovery period after hernia operations — meaning Souttar is unlikely to be match-fit before late July, cutting it close for the Champions League clash.
This situation poses an immediate challenge for Martin, whose first match in charge will be that very European qualifier. Already short on trusted central defenders, Martin must now consider his options carefully, with the defensive line in a state of flux.
Souttar’s absence is further complicated by the departure of veteran Leon Balogun, who left the club at the end of his contract and was a key figure under interim boss Barry Ferguson. Now, Martin’s centre-back pool includes only a handful of fit options: Robin Propper, Clinton Nsiala, Ben Davies, and Leon King.
However, Propper is poised to rejoin FC Twente after a single season in Glasgow, Nsiala barely featured last year, and both Davies and King spent the end of last season out on loan at Birmingham City and Queen’s Park, respectively.
Souttar, who joined Rangers from Hearts in 2022 after overcoming multiple serious injuries, has accumulated 64 senior appearances in his three years at the club but continues to struggle with fitness. With the start of Martin’s reign fast approaching, the defensive uncertainty represents a major concern as Rangers aim to navigate the high-pressure qualifying rounds and secure a lucrative spot in the Champions League group stage.
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