Pundit Michael Stewart reckons an unfamiliar position was behind John Souttar' s uncomfortable league debut for Rangers. And he reckons that's because the plan was never to play him as a left-side centre-back.
Souttar arrived from Hearts on a pre-contract move in the summer and was named in the starting XI alongside Connor Goldson for the opening day of the season. But it was far from a dream start as Souttar was shrugged off by Livingston's Joel Nouble for the opening goal.
Scotland cap Souttar looked out of sorts and he was subbed off in the second half, before Rangers mounted a dramatic comeback and clinched a narrow win at the Tony Macaroni. Pundit Stewart, speaking to BBC Sportsound during the second half, reckons that's because he was playing as a left centre-back - when he was accustomed to playing on the right of a three at Hearts.
And Stewart fears it was never the plan for Souttar to play there, believing he might have been signed as a replacement for Connor Goldson, rather than to be his partner. He said: “Souttar is clearly at fault as he gets outmuscled but it’s a wonderful finish from Nouble. Souttar played on the right-side of a back three at Hearts last year after coming back from a bad injury and he was outstanding.
“I do wonder if Rangers felt that Connor Goldson was away when they signed him. If they didn’t think that he’d sign a new deal so that’s where Souttar would be playing. Goldson signed an extension and he (Souttar) is now playing on the left side of a back four.
"It’s not the ideal position for him and he’s always been yellow carded after Nouble spinned him down the line. It’s been an uncomfortable start for John Souttar.”
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