'Absolutely Brilliant' - Pundit wowed by int'l Rangers star who proved Euros manager wrong

John Souttar was “absolutely brilliant” for Scotland against Portugal and has to start the next game if he stays fit for Rangers, says Marvin Bartley.

The pundit said on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard on 16 October that the Ibrox defender deservedly was man of the match in the goalless draw up against Cristiano Ronaldo and company the night before, insisting Souttar has responded to being left out of the Euro 2024 squad to make himself undroppable at this point.

Steve Clarke overlooked the 28-year-old for the tournament in Germany, opting to take then-Leeds United captain Liam Cooper, but Bartley believes Souttar has responded in the best way possible.

Bartley said (30m 25s): “I thought he was brilliant. I thought the whole back four did extremely well. The best thing about Souttar’s performance for is it didn’t start as he probably wanted it to, there was a couple of times he turned the ball over and gave it away.

“But it showed the maturity to shake that off and just get on with the game. He grew into the game and just got better and better and better and ended up being Scotland’s star performer and getting the man of the match, deservedly so.

“He was brilliant. It’s been difficult, going back to the Euros, he missed out on that and he knows he’s got to try and prove himself again, and he’s gone a long, long way in terms of doing that for Scotland.”

He later added: “John Souttar can only do what he did yesterday. When you get the opportunity, play as well as he has, and for me that means he starts the next game as long as he remains fit for Rangers.”

Rangers star John Souttar wows for Scotland vs Portugal and Cristano Ronaldo

Connor Goldson left Ibrox in the summer and was replaced by Robin Propper, yet it is Souttar who has established himself as the number centre-back for Philippe Clement.

The Gers defence is still less than rock solid but it would certainly be a lot more uncertain if it were not for the improved form of the former Hearts man.

He is expected to follow Dujon Sterling in having a contract extension announced imminently [Daily Record, 1 October] in a move which should keep him at Ibrox long-term.

And Clement will hope Souttar can take confidence from his display and clean sheet against the six-time Ballon d’Or winner into his form for the Light Blues.

Top two Celtic and Aberdeen play each other this weekend so the Gers’ return to action at Kilmarnock on 20 October is a key opportunity to gain ground on at least one of the sides above them in the table, and the Europa League clash with FCSB four days later also looks set to be a major chance to rebound in Europe as the Romanians are due to play a weakened side.

There are plenty of questions around the Rangers side still but Souttar is increasingly ensuring he is not one of them.

In other Rangers news, an experienced international is expected to leave the Light Blues this season despite a key breakthrough.

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