Souttar is in blue heaven after going through hell at Parkhead
RANGERS STAR GOES FROM FALL GUY TO TALL GUY WITH VITAL GOAL AGAINST CELTIC
FROM fall guy to tall guy, John Souttar rose high to bullet home the decisive second goal in Rangers’ first victory over Celtic this season.
It was a redemptive moment for the defender, whose sloppy backpass had invited Jota to skip past Allan McGregor and score the goal that effectively sealed the Premiership title for Celtic last month.
No stranger to adversity thanks to career-threatening injuries at Hearts and another extended spell out after his very first appearance for Rangers last July, Souttar vowed to remain calm after his big mistake in Glasgow’s east end.
Yet the smile on his face as he appeared in the Ibrox press room for post-match media duties suggested he might have had a job suppressing his emotions last night.
He said: ‘I enjoyed that. It’s been a frustrating season for myself and the team, so to get that goal was a big moment for me and Rangers. That’s why you play football, to score big goals like that and, because of all the frustration, it just adds to how much it means.
‘When you’ve been out for so long, you dream of moments like that. That’s what keeps you going. It’s why you keep working hard.’
Renowned for his ball-playing prowess, Souttar’s aberration in the earlier fixture had brought scrutiny over his readiness to play for Rangers.
‘I was asked about how bad I felt after the game at Celtic Park at the time and I said it was about how I reacted,’ he admitted. ‘There will always be moments like that in football when you think it’s the end of the world.
‘But it’s important you stay in the middle, whether it’s good or bad. There will be different moments and it’s about how you bounce back. This feeling is obviously a lot better.’
Although signed by Giovanni van Bronckhorst last year, Souttar earned the admiration of his current manager much earlier.
Formerly a firstteam coach at Ibrox under Steven Gerrard, Michael Beale enjoyed the defender’s ability to build play and has expressed a desire to make him a key part of his plans going forward. ‘I am delighted for John after the injury hell he has gone through both at his previous club and during his time at Rangers,’ said Beale. ‘It has been extremely different for him and people have said things without actually knowing the situation.
‘John’s back. He has played today with Connor (Goldson) and put on a really strong performance.
‘He has scored and he’s probably got over that little mistake he made in the last one, so I’m pleased for him. If he can stay fit, we’ve got a really good player and I think he’ll push back into the national team if he can stay fit.’
Afforded his opportunity to partner Goldson by an injury to Ben Davies, Souttar will now have a chance to impress Scotland boss Steve Clarke in the final three games of the season.
Scotland face key Euro 2024 qualifiers against Norway and Georgia in June and the 26-year-old wants to be on the plane to Oslo.
Beyond that, the six-times capped defender has a determination to ensure he remains in the picture as Beale effects a summer rebuild of his squad.
He said: ‘I’ll wait and see what happens with Scotland but, if I do get back in, it would be brilliant.
‘I feel like I’m slowly getting back to my best but it’s always difficult when you don’t have that pre-season behind you.
‘It’s my third or fourth start since I’ve come back, so it will take time — but I felt good out there.
‘It was a huge game for everyone
in that dressing room today.
‘There will be a lot of changes in the summer, the manager has already said that, so everyone had a point to prove, individually and collectively. That has to be a glimpse into the future for Rangers under this manager. ‘You don’t want to look too much at the result. This season hasn’t been good enough, we all know that, and next year has to be a lot better.
‘The atmosphere was electric today and that helped the players. ‘The way we started the game helped with that, we were on the front foot and aggressive. The crowd came with us. ‘It showed that if we play like that, they will follow us, and when they do, then it’s massive for us.’
Souttar was not the only player to be invested with Beale’s faith yesterday. With veteran Allan McGregor on the brink of retirement, goalkeeper Robby McCrorie has been given a chance to stake a claim ahead of next season and made an impression on his second successive start.
A second-half save from Matt O’Riley was a highlight of a composed and commanding performance and, although Beale has been heavily linked with a move to bring in ex-England keeper Jack Butland as No1, the manager insists McCrorie is in the frame.
‘I think Robby will only get better with time and he’s 100 per cent in my thinking,’ added Beale.
‘Listen, we are going to lose one goalkeeper because he is out of contract and we are not in the job of signing bad ones.
‘We have had Allan and Jon (McLaughlin), who are two Scottish internationals, and Robby has been in the group, too.
‘He has been injured for four of the six months I’ve been here but he always knew he would get an opportunity.
‘All he can do is keep playing as he did today.
‘I think that’s four clean sheets on the bounce as a Rangers first-team keeper, so that’s not a bad record to upkeep.
‘Robby has set a high standard for himself.’