Pundit View: Clement 'has to' start Rangers man v Aberdeen amid Souttar injury concerns

Barry Ferguson has told Philippe Clement he “has to” start Neraysho Kasanwirjo and Leon Balogun against Aberdeen if John Souttar is injured.

Souttar missed the Light Blues’ win over St Mirren through injury on Sunday (27 October) with reports suggesting the Gers are quietly confident he will be fit to feature against Jimmy Thelin’s side [Daily Mail, 28 October].

Clement’s side make the trip to Pittodrie to face the Dons on Wednesday (30 October) and Go Radio pundit Ferguson has told the Belgian he cannot afford to start Robin Propper once again.

Speaking on The Go Radio Football Show (28 October, 8:32) he said: “Obviously John Souttar is touch and go, I don’t really know the injury situation with John Souttar.

“But if Souttar is not fit, Kasanwirjo has to go in at centre-half. He has to go in there. I’ve been impressed with him, I was impressed with him yesterday playing at right back and he obviously went into the centre-back position when James Tavernier came on for Propper.

“If John Souttar is not fit to play on Wednesday, they have to make a big decision in the centre-back area and I think it has to be Kasanwirjo and Balogun.”

What has happened to John Souttar at Rangers and Ibrox?

It is not an exaggeration to suggest Wednesday evening’s game is the biggest of the season already for the Gers.

A loss at Pittodrie would not only rule the Light Blues out of the title race but also increase the pressure on Clement from pundits and supporters alike which could even cost the Belgian his job.

That makes it all the more important that the Belgian picks the right team to ensure that Thelin’s side doesn’t run riot over the Light Blues.

Propper has struggled to deal with the physicality of Premiership football so far this term and it would be far too big a risk to start him if Souttar isn’t able to feature at Pittodrie.

In his limited minutes so far this season, Kasanwirjo has shown that he is able to cope with the demands of both Premiership and European football and starting him alongside Balogun would give the Gers a solid base to build from.

Hopefully, the Gers’ confidence hasn’t been misplaced and Souttar will be fit and ready to feature against the Dons on Wednesday. If he isn’t however, it is clear what Clement has to do.

In other Rangers news, Vaclav Cerny has been told that he looks like a “little boy” when he plays in the Scottish Premiership

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