According to Dr. Rajpal Brar, Rangers defender John Souttar is not expected to return for the match against Celtic on January 2.
According to the injury expert, the center-back may have a Grade 2 groin injury, which would prevent him from playing for some time.
He was ruled out of the remaining 2024 games by Philippe Clement, who did not specify when he would return.
“Based on the timeline and fluid situation, this sounds like a potential Grade 2 out of 4 groin injury,” Brar, a sports scientist and physical therapy doctor, said in an exclusive interview with Ibrox News about his condition.
It truly relies on the answer, as the manager said.
“Unless he has a solid few days of preparation before the match on January 2, he might not be prepared.
“At the moment, he’s probably out.”
Rangers are severely harmed by John Souttar’s absence.
The 28-year-old is now among Clement’s first names on the team sheet.
He has been a mainstay at the defense for the Ibrox team this season, making 14 league starts and another six in the Europa League.
Whether Robin Propper can step up his game without Souttar is still up in the air.
Celtic stumbled to a 0-0 tie against Dundee United before the hectic time coming up to New Year’s, but Clement was able to close the margin back down to nine points before Christmas with the 1-0 victory against Dundee on December 21.
“Shock target scores’sensational’ 30-minute hat-trick, justifying Rangers ties
At this point, it’s still unclear how interested Rangers are. Or even whether the Scottish Premiership’s biggest teams are indeed interested in him.
Even though more information is needed before this unknown 22-year-old can be officially identified as a Rangers target before the January transfer window opens, his Sunday performances will undoubtedly help Arif Aiman Hanapi’s chances of making the hard-won move to Europe.
About a month ago, Malaysian international Arif Aiman Hanapi was connected to Rangers. In his native South East Asia, the reports reportedly surfaced through the New Strait Times.
Although Hanapi is clearly not well-known in Glasgow or anyplace else on the continent, his impressive record indicates that this might soon change if he is given the chance to establish himself in a more prominent setting.
Even Ross County could easily defeat Kuala Lumpur City in the Malaysian Super League, but you need some real quality to do what Hanapi did against Kuala Lumpur City.
Rangers connections are justified by Arif Aiman Hanapi’s “sensational” hat-trick.
Hanapi nearly single-handedly led Johor Darul Ta’zim to a 3-0 victory, bringing his goal total to 14 goals in 24 games.
Hanapi scored the first goal with a deadly shot that was blasted into the bottom corner, setting up a hat-trick in just thirty minutes of the first half.
He had an absolutely amazing second. A 30-yard screamer veered and dipped toward the upper corner of Kuala Lumpur City. You would be wise to avoid giving Hanapi a yard of space to choose his position from any distance if he were to join Rangers in the future. This is a caution to all Scottish Premiership defenders.In contrast, Hanapi’s third goal was a well-executed penalty that sped past a dejected goalie.
Bernama, a Malaysian publication, called his performance “sensational.” FootBoom, on the other hand, chooses the alternative, although equally flattering, term “Extraordinary.”
Former Venezuelan international Hector Bidoglio, the head coach of Johor Darul Ta’zim, believes that no player in Malaysian football can match Arif Aiman Hanapi while he is playing at this level.
I think of the expression “big fish in a small pond.”
Malaysian player Hanapi has been called a “phenomenal” talent.
Bidoglio, on the other hand, emphasizes Hanapi’s work-rate outside of possession in addition to the exceptional caliber of his finishing. If the rumors of Rangers’ interest are true, this quality would make him like Philippe Clement and help him adjust to life in Scotland.
At full-time, Bidoglio told reporters, “He was phenomenal.” Not only for the hat-trick, but also for his general offensive and defensive contributions.
It’s wonderful to see him in such terrific shape. I am aware of the daily effort he makes to raise his level of performance. He is undoubtedly our best player.
A winger seems to be one of Rangers’ top needs moving into 2025, especially as Vaclav Cerny is just on loan from VFL Wolfsburg and Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo are having a season marked by stoppages because of their persistent injury problems.
Oguz Aydin of Fenerbahce is supposedly a favorite of Rangers. Kwame Poku, the star of Peterborough United, may not be able to move to Ibrox in January due to an injury.
Hanapi, on the other hand, may be among the most intriguing names on the list despite not being the most well-known.
13 goals in 17 appearances; another victory for Rangers, who are apparently seeking £2.4 million
The way Philippe Clement’s team has distributed the goals thus far in the Scottish Premiership campaign is one of its most distinctive aspects
Two Rangers players are among the top three in the Golden Boot race as of Christmas Day. Vaclav Cerny now has seven goals after scoring the game-winning goal against Dundee on Saturday.
There are six for Cyriel Dessers. Also, Danilo, Tom Lawrence, Nedim Bajrami, James Tavernier, and Hamza Igamane have all contributed usefully in the absence of a productive number nine like Alfredo Morelos or Kris Boyd.
But with Mamelodi Sundowns, a South African team, things are almost entirely different.
Iqraam Rayners scored the game-winning goal in the 1-0 victory over Amazulu on Christmas Eve, bringing his total to 13 goals in 17 appearances. At the top of the Mamelodi scoring lists, Rayners is now six points ahead of his nearest rival.
In contrast, this was the late-blooming center-forward’s second goal in as many days. Rayners returned to torment former employers Stellenbosch last week. Rayners is carrying his team on his back, even though Rangers have shared the load.
This month, Rangers have been linked to a transfer for Iqraam Rayners. Rangers is reportedly proposing £2.4 million to bring the South Africa international to Ibrox, according to recent sources from that country.
As of right now, these reports are still covered in mystery. In Scotland, they have not yet been verified. Additionally, St Etienne’s interest in Cyriel Dessers suggests that a new striker may be needed, but it would seem strange to bring in a 29-year-old to replace a player who just turned 30.
However, Rayners’ track record is self-evident.
In the spring, Rayners, wearing a shirt from Stellenbosch, crushed Polokwane City by himself, becoming just the second player in South African history to score five goals in a single game. Five strong but very distinct finishes, from every range and angle, and from both feet.
Ibrox was connected The South African star is “a superb finisher.”
At full time, astonished Stellenbosch coach Steve Barker told IOL, “Iqraam is on a great run of form.” “You could see that he is a good football player and a great finisher.”
“What is there to say? There were five unique objectives. Each goal came via a superb finish that was well-considered, well-struck, or constructed.
“He demonstrated his abilities as a goal scorer once more.”
Even if Rangers were to make a deal above £2 million, according to Soccer Laduma, the Mamelodi Sundowns would not be in a rush to accept. They’re not aiming for a title. And not after they signed Rayners only last summer, tying him down.
Rangers will have options in the last third when they go to St Mirren on Boxing Day.
Ross McCausland has also recovered from injury, and Philippe Clement is thrilled to have Ianis Hagi and Danilo back available.
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