Former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson has heaped praise on defender John Souttar, calling him a “shining light” in what has been a disappointing start to the season for Philippe Clement’s side.
Souttar, who has played every minute of Rangers’ league campaign so far, has impressed with his consistent performances despite the team’s struggles. Ferguson, writing in the Daily Record on 18 October, commended the Scotland international for his resilience and form after battling through years of injury setbacks.
“But amongst all the doom and gloom, one man in particular is providing my old club with a bit of a shining light,” Ferguson said. “Big John Souttar has been through the ringer himself over the years with all sorts of potentially career-threatening injuries.
“From the day he arrived at Rangers, it’s felt like he’s been fighting a constant battle just to get himself up to full speed and get some regular games under his belt. And that’s why I’m genuinely so pleased for him now that he’s finally emerging as the central defender that the rest of us always hoped he would become.”
Ferguson added that Souttar has been a standout for Clement’s side, stating, “It’s fair to say he’s probably the most consistent performer in the Belgian’s squad.”
Souttar’s strong form has not gone unnoticed on the international stage either, with Ferguson highlighting the defender’s recent performances for Scotland against Croatia and Portugal. “There was something really satisfying about seeing him reclaim his place in Scotland’s defence and reproduce that same form in a dark blue shirt,” Ferguson noted.