Opinion: It’s time for Souttar to decide Scotland’s fate following Steve Clarke’s disrespect.

Rangers used to provide the core to the Scotland national team, now, they are lucky to get one or two players in the squad.

Of those selected, Connor Barron might have a future in midfield given the ages of Kenny McLean and John McGinn, but it is John Souttar who has every right to feel agrieved about his lack of game time as he reports back at Auchenhowie for Rangers.

Souttar has just nine caps for his country with players like Scott McKenna, Ryan Porteous, Jack Hendry and Grant Hanley all having significantly more, for whatever reason, Steve Clarke just doesn’t rate him.

Time for John Souttar to rethink Scotland career

This is no more evident than Scotland’s recent run of form and goals conceded.

Only one win in 13 games – against Gibraltar – suggests that the defence isn’t doing its job and yet Clarke refuses to budge.

Hanley has played just nine times in 2024 and only made two appearances this season.

He isn’t that good a player that Clarke should be bending over backwards to play him.

Additionally, it’s not like Hanley is playing for Man City or Arsenal, he’s not getting a game for Norwich City.

Souttar, on the other hand, has shown that he is over the worst of his injury problems and a consistent figure in Philippe Clement’s Rangers.

If anything, Souttar has been Rangers best centre-half so far this season.

At international level, being comfortable in possession and having recovery pace is hugely important, Hanley has neither.

Souttar knows why international break would help him

With the ever-growing demands of the football calendar and Souttar’s injury record, maybe now would be a good time to take a break from Scotland duty.

Clarke didn’t even pick Souttar for the European Championships which shows where he ranks the Gers number five and, reflecting on the rest in the summer, the 27-year old could do with considering his options:

“I played a lot of football last year and this has been the first time I’ve really had the chance to have that break and let my body recover from last year. So I’m feeling good and looking forward to the start of the season.

“I wouldn’t call what happened a blessing. But looking back maybe it will be a good thing getting that rest and letting my body recover because I played a lot of football compared to previous years. So fingers crossed that in the long run I’ll be looking back thinking it was a good thing.

“It’s part of football. There are going to be disappointments whether it’s in games or life. There are going to be disappointments and it’s about how you handle that.

“Then how you bounce back from it. It just motivated me to get better. I spent the summer looking back on my season and looking at improving where I can.

“I was obviously part of the training camp so I was close (to making the squad). I was as close as you can be. But it was a decision, one way or the other, that I wasn’t to be involved.”

Ryan Jack consistently came back from international duty injured and Callum McGregor looks like a new player across the city without the burden of a 10-month fixture list.

Souttar has forced his way into being first choice at Rangers, if he wants to stay there, looking after his body is his best chance.

Alistair Johnston makes Canadian podcast appearance and reveals how Celtic have blown him away

Celtic defender Alistair Johnston has made as impressive a start to the 2024/25 season as anyone in green and white, starting all five matches. He’s registered a goal and assist along the way, and he’s also been important to four successive clean sheets in the Scottish Premiership.

Like many of his colleagues, the Canadian is kicking on to new heights under manager Brendan Rodgers and seems set to take his game on to a greater platform in the UEFA Champions League.

He plays like he’s a veteran of Celtic and Scottish football but surprisingly he’s been at the club for less than two years, savouring every moment since arriving in the January 2023 transfer window. It’s evident how much he loves the Celtic experience, from playing in front of such passionate supporters to the pressures of winning every week and always bettering himself as an athlete.

Alistair Johnston likes playing for Celtic

He isn’t bashful in the media and his latest podcast appearance on international duty with Canada is another indication of how great an impact life in Glasgow is having on him. Johnston spoke poetic about all facets of Celtic and what he appreciates most about representing the Scottish champions.

He told Footy Prime: “Obviously I knew how big of a club it was but when you touchdown there – I just signed, I literally got off the plane and I hadn’t even kicked a ball yet, but they were all coming up to me.

“Once I got to the training facility, I saw the levels. I think that’s the biggest thing I really enjoy – we’re all competitors, we want to see what the highest level is we can get to. You want to be around the best players, you want to be around the best coaches – that was something I got as soon as I got through that door.

“MLS is a little different with the salary cap and all of the different permutations and rules. It’s difficult to have one through 30 all being top, top players – versus at Celtic I was like ‘Man, that guy isn’t even making our squads and he’s a full international for a European country’.”

Celtic coaching ‘unbelievable’ for players

The right-back continued: “It’s going to be competitive and you need to be on it every single day. The coaching is unbelievable. I’ve been lucky enough to have Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers.

“It’s top, top stuff. You’re learning, you’re pushing yourself and you’re seeing what level it is I can reach. What is my full potential? That’s something that, deep down, every single athlete wants.

“As soon as I walked in the door and got a couple of training sessions under my belt I knew this is exactly where I want to be and exactly where I need to be. And once you get out there and start playing, you realise, ‘I’m not going to give up my starting spot, I will fight through every injury, whatever it takes, I need to be out there playing’.”

The entire interview is well worth a watch. Johnston comes across superbly and as if he wants to represent Celtic for years further – which we all hope he does of course.

The 25-year-old has emerged as a big leader in that dressing room and will help set the tone for further success to come. Long may it continue.

‘Hurt’ – Barry Ferguson reacts to what he watched Rangers do in Directors’ Box vs Celtic

Barry Ferguson was left “hurt and disappointed” as Rangers were condemned to a 3-0 defeat by Celtic on Sunday (1 September).

Despite a positive start to the match, and escaping going a goal down thanks to an offside check, Daizen Maeda eventually hit the back of the net after 17 minutes.

Kyogo Furuhashi doubled the Hoops’ lead just shy of half-time before Callum McGregor rounded off the victory in front of the Celtic Park crowd while the Gers fans could only watch on from home.

Writing via the Daily Record on Tuesday (3 September), Ferguson said: “I’m not going to lie. This one hurts. Maybe it was because I was there to watch it with my own eyes, sitting in the directors’ box at Parkhead.

“Perhaps it was the joy on the faces of the Celtic fans when they were doing their wee huddle dance and laughing in my face when their team was 3-0 up. It was interesting, let’s just leave it at that.

“But mainly, the hurt and disappointment I’ve been left nursing was caused by a Rangers performance which was simply not good enough on derby day in Glasgow’s east end. To be honest, I’ve still got an empty feeling inside more than 24 hours later and that’s not like me.”

Rangers fans disappointed by Old Firm result v Celtic

The passionate fans at Ibrox have every right to be disappointed by the result, voicing their concerns about Philippe Clement and the state of the behind-the-scenes happenings with the board.

There is a clear gulf between the two rivals, which was especially relevant during the summer transfer window as Brenden Rodgers was able to splash millions on new signings.

At the same time, Clement and Nils Koppen were tied to a shoestring budget, having to search for alternative options, including free agents.

With only four matches of the new Scottish Premiership campaign played so far, there is plenty of time for Clement to turn things around, but with a new-found pressure at the helm, he may not have as much time as he thinks.

The Belgian must do something he has been unable to do during his tenure so far – beat Celtic. The league title is there for the Gers to take, but they must defeat their Old Firm rivals to claim it.

Rangers star is accused by Keith Jackson of “throwing in the towel” against Celtic

Following Sunday’s disappointing 3-0 loss to Celtic, Rangers captain James Tavernier was accused by Keith Jackson of “throwing in the towel” (1 September).

With all the pressure Philippe Clement is already under at Ibrox, the defeat to Celtic, their Old Firm rivals, will not help him at all.

Tavernier, who was rumoured to be leaving Ibrox during the summer transfer window, has been praised for his play and has managed to hold onto his position this year.

“The truth is – as unpalatable as it may be for them to swallow – is that these fans are now on the point of throwing in the towel, in the same way, that captain Tavernier did yesterday afternoon while his team was being taken apart by the neighbours,” Jackson wrote in a piece published by the Daily Record on Monday, September 2.

After Rangers vs. Celtic, James Tavernier bears the majority of the blame.

Tavernier shouldn’t mind being singled out by the media and supporters because he is the club captain.

After switching from Wigan to the Gers in the summer of 2015, the 32-year-old has committed nearly ten years of his life to the team, but it appears that his time there is running out.

Many supporters thought the right-back would be leaving Ibrox this summer after clubs approached him, but he is still a member of Clement’s starting lineup.

Fans are frustrated by Dujon Sterling’s involvement because they feel that he should be playing midfield to gain experience rather than starting at full-back.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement

Although Tavernier has received harsh criticism for yet another appalling performance, the manager ought to bear the majority of the guilt as he has ready his team to play at Celtic Park against Brenden Rodgers’ squad.

The fierce supporters of the Gers have every right to be worried about their chances of winning the Scottish Premiership title already, as the team has only triumphed once against their Old Firm rivals in the previous 12 meetings.