Every time John Souttar hobbled back on to the treatment table, Lee McCulloch knew the big defender had the beating of it.
Even though any one of those injuries could have ended his career. A succession of ankle and hip problems. Two ruptured Achilles tendons. Multiple close encounters with the surgeon’s scalpel. Souttar came through it all and still managed to turn in performances impressive enough to win a Scotland call-up and a move to Rangers.
McCulloch watched him battle back from the brink so many times during their time together at Hearts. And that’s why the former Tynecastle coach was quick to shower praise on the 26-year-old yesterday after Souttar ended a tumultuous, injury-ravaged first season at Ibrox with a return to Steve Clarke’s national squad. McCulloch said: “I’m absolutely thrilled for the big man because it’s no exaggeration to say he’s not had much luck over the last few years!
