John Souttar doesn’t need to win over his new manager – but Mick Beale knows the Rangers defender is now determined to show fans he has a big future at Ibrox.
The 26-year-old is edging closer to ending his injury nightmare in Govan with a comeback pencilled in later this month or early February. Souttar is counting down the minutes after lasting just 67 of them in his debut against Livingston back in July.
A troublesome ankle injury from his Hearts days flared up and required surgery – leaving the Scotland star as a bit of a forgotten man around Auchenhowie. Not by his gaffer, though. It sums up Souttar’s luck that the man who signed him was out the door before he got back on the pitch. But Gio van Bronckhorst’s replacement Beale doesn’t need any persuading about the centre back. The Rangers gaffer saw enough of Soutter from his three years in Scotland as Stevie Gerrard’s right hand man to know he has a player on his hands.
Beale said: “He doesn’t have a point to prove to me. I really rate him. He will want to prove it to the fans and to his team-mates that he belongs here and he can go on and have a successful career here. He’s similar to Tom Lawrence who had a strong start but then missed an awful lot of football.
“They are both working back and hopefully in January or February we can have both in the team, which would be lovely. John’s had a really rough few seasons with injury. He has played at a high level but hasn’t had a strong and consistent run. We feel his rehab coming back has been strong and that he’s got really solid foundations now.
“He’s a good player, he can step into midfield with the ball and is one I’d watched when I was here in my previous time, so I was delighted to inherit him. I would just like to work with him now.”
Souttar was deep in his rehab when Beale arrived back at Ibrox in November but he made a beeline for the defender on day one. Some Rangers fans have already written off the former Dundee United and Hearts man but the manager can see a role for the ball-playing centre back in his team.
Beale said: “I spoke to him on the very first day I joined because he was a player we’d watched under the previous management and was one ear-marked as coming to the end of his contract. We liked the way he played and when we are dominant in possession we felt we could showcase his talents even more in terms of bringing the ball into midfield and making passes. So he is aware that I like him.
“I like players who are fit and hungry, available all the time. That is probably the message to all the players; don’t be injured too long!”
The wait should be over soon. Rangers have taken their time with Souttar and refused to rush him back – even when a central defender would have been handy. This time they want to clear up his injury problems once and for all and get the Scotland cap’s career back on track.
Beale’s been impressed with the attitude he’s seen during the healing process and is convinced it won’t be long before Souttar is doing the business for club and country. He said: “The rehab has been fantastic and he looks strong. If anything we are trying to hold John back because he is pushing.
"He is well liked within the group which, for someone who has come in and who hasn’t been able to play week in, week out, that is a good sign of his personality and character. I thought he would come to Rangers and kick on to the senior national team but injury has held him back.
"That is one for the future. If John can play consistently he will be a good player for Rangers and then onwards and upwards for the national team.”
Beale walked into a scene from MASH last month with numerous Gers laid up in the treatment room. Souttar had plenty of company with Filil Helander, Ianis Hagi, Kemar Roofe, Lawrence and more also spending time on the long term absent list.
There’s light at the end of the tunnel now with a lot of them but Souttar refused to be downbeat despite his huge move stalling at the starting line.
Beale said: “Like most players who are injured, they are disappointed. They are living the dream and then when they can’t do it they wear that around their head and I am sure their families see a change in them. Inside the building John has been fantastic, very supportive of the team and their team-mates. So has Helander. They have been fantastic but it is hard for them.
“They see their mates going on to train and they are stuck inside. I can see in John’s eyes that he can’t wait to get out there and rejoin the group.
“It’s an interesting time when a new manager comes with new ideas and you want to be able to train to showcase what you have got. He’s one of the players that I had watched previously so for him there is even more of a need to get out and show what he can do.”
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