Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Euros dreams on hold as Souttar prepares for thrilling end to season
JOHN Souttar will put Euro 2024 aims on the back burner as he looks forward to a potentially thrilling finale to the domestic season with Rangers.
The Light Blues already have the Viaplay Cup in the Ibrox trophy room and will play Hearts in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park next weekend.
Philippe Clement’s men are also chasing cinch Premiership leaders Celtic as they prepare for the trip to Ross County tomorrow.
But while the summer offers the possibility to go to the European Championships in Germany with Scotland, Gers defender Souttar is looking no further than Dingwall.
The 27-year-old said: “My full focus is on Rangers. It is massive for us at the end of the season.
“There are six, seven weeks left and everyone knows what is at stake. So, for me, the full focus is on every game.
“I know it is cliche but it is so important we go into every game with full concentration and full belief in what we have been doing since the gaffer came in.
“We stick to everything that has got us in this position and the rest will take care of itself.”
After an injury-ravaged first season at Ibrox following his move from Hearts, Souttar is pleased to have racked up 35 appearance for Rangers this season so far.
“Everyone knows last season for me was far from ideal and it wasn’t what I dreamed of when I signed here,” he said.
“But this season, so far, I have made up probably for lost time in the games that I have played and the minutes I have had on the pitch.
“I think I will look back in the summer and how we have finished the season and hopefully it is a great end.”