It’s not like we’re John parole now
V Rangers Tomorrow, 12pm
JOHN SOUTTAR insists Rangers’ pointless trip to Dundee can still help them lock up the title – because it’s not like they were holed up in a prison.
Ibrox officials might be raging over the circumstances surrounding Wednesday’s game being called off for a second time and looking for Dundee to be punished.
But Souttar says boss Philippe Clement is huge on fostering team spirit, so an away day in St Andrews might just have come at a key moment in their quest for the Premiership crown.
Ahead of an even longer trip to face Ross County tomorrow, the defender said: “It’s not like we were going up there and staying in a prison.
“We were in a very nice hotel so I’m not going to complain about going up there and spending a day with the boys.
“We’re a close knit group so it’s not like we went up there and spent the time on our own with everyone raging with the game being called off. We had a good time.
“We could be negative about it but I prefer to be positive and focus on that. It’s a way of bonding.
“It brings the boys and staff together and to win things I think that’s important. The manager is big on that. Everyone is close so trips like that are never wasted.
“It’s far from ideal what happened and how it was. But I don’t think too many boys were raging. We just had to deal with it.”
Dealing with setbacks is nothing new for Souttar who has fought back from three Achilles ruptures and a serious ankle injury to stand on the brink of something truly special with club and country over the next few months.
A first Premiership title is winking on the horizon as is a possible Treble and, as if that’s not enough, his place in the Scotland squad for this summer’s Euros is a safe bet.
The 27-year-old is set to make his 36th appearance of the season tomorrow – matching his previous best six years ago at Hearts and a sure sign he is close to hitting peak levels.
He said: “This has to be close to the most I have played in a season and it’s also close to if not the most consistently I’ve played in my career.”