Prove my worth..? It Soutts me

JOHN SOUTTAR is closing in on a year of being free from injury. But the Rangers defender admits he still wakes up every day feeling like he has a point to prove to his Ibrox doubters. The Scotland defender joined the club from Hearts in the summer of 2022, only to see his first nine months wiped out by a serious ankle knock. However, he’s back fully fit and in fine form too for Philippe Clement’s side. Even so, the 27-year-old said: “I have got to prove that every single day I am here, prove why I should be here. That hasn’t changed from the minute I first walked through the door. “But this is probably the first time I’ve played consistently. “That’s a massive thing for me. It’s been a year since I’ve been back fit for an extended time. “I’ve been fit and playing football. And I feel now I’m probably getting back to the best I’ve felt physically. “My body feels really good. People aren’t saying that they hope I stay fit now – they’re expecting me to be fit. “That’s a big mindset change and it’s good.” Souttar – who endured three devastating Achilles ruptures earlier in his career – has been set a rigorous gym programme aimed at protecting him from repeat breakdowns. But he’s confident those dark days of rehab are well and truly behind him. He added: “I have got an individual programme, as do a lot of the boys. It is something I am quite religious with and that I stick to every day. “It has been working. I will continue with that. Have I changed as a defender because of all that gym work? Yes, definitely. “I’ve also grown up as well. Being 27, probably as an athlete I’m in the best place I’ve been. “My body’s in the best place. A lot of things combined have probably made me feel the best I’ve ever felt.”