'Really Sorry' - Ewan Murray claims snubbed Rangers ace 'A Mile' better than Norwich, Leeds rivals

John Souttar would “walk into” the Scotland side if he had a “fair wind”, says Ewan Murray after the Rangers defender was left out of the Euro 2024 squad by Steve Clarke.

The Guardian journalist reacted via Twitter on 8 June after the centre-back was dropped from the provisional group a day earlier for the showpiece tournament in Germany, indicating he felt “really sorry” for the Ibrox man and highlighting the difficulties he has faced, including inadequate teammates.

And after it was suggested to him that there was little to divide Souttar with Norwich’s Grant Hanley and Leeds United’s Liam Cooper, who both made it, Murray responded to insist: “He is the best on the ball of all of them by a mile.”

Murray wrote: “Understandable focus on Craig Gordon but I feel really sorry for John Souttar. Injury, played out of position, played alongside folk who cannot defend… people forget how good he is. He would walk into the Scotland team with a fair wind. Feels like he is overdue one.

Liam Cooper and Grant Hanley make squad over Rangers man

The past season under Philippe Clement saw Souttar finally establish himself as a regular in the Light Blues first team after an injury-hit debut season in Glasgow.

He had only managed 13 total appearances after arriving from Hearts on a free transfer the previous year, but played 41 total times as he surpassed long-time starter Connor Goldson as arguably the number one central option at Ibrox.

The Englishman’s faltering form last season saw him lose his place late in the campaign, and likely didn’t aid Souttar establishing a stable partnership.

And yet the endless fitness issues throughout the Rangers squad saw him miss the final two games of the post-split league season and the Scottish Cup final.

While displaying some of his best last term it is a measure of the uncertain picture at the position in the squad that veteran Leon Balogun has been re-signed to a new one-year contract despite approaching his 36th birthday.

Souttar can surely think himself pretty unlucky to make the Scotland squad, especially when the Leeds captain Cooper only started 11 games in all competitions.

But from a Rangers point of view he needs to improve his own consistency levels and, as with so many, stay fit.

The possibility that he could be joined by his brother Harry at Rangers didn’t come off in the January transfer window but has been tipped as a strong partnership in future, and might be just what he needs to feel comfortable and stabilise his form.

In other Rangers news, a confirmed contract update and a six-figure payment has emerged in a Light Blues deal pursuit.

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