While everything is going on, Steve Clarke can arguably be partially excused for sticking with the players who have been the cornerstone of a Scotland team that is hoping for successful European Championship campaigns.
However, there were still raised eyebrows in Glasgow’s blue corner when Ryan Porteous of Watford and Jack Hendry of Al-Ettifaq, a £6.5 million former Celtic player, were selected to start ahead of the frequently controversial John Souttar for Friday’s friendly match against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
John Souttar one of Rangers’ stand-out performers
At least this was a positive step nonetheless.
Souttar, who had limited action in the Dutch capital as a substitute, was not included in Clarke’s November roster at all. Actually, since June 2022, he hasn’t started a Scotland match.
Even though the former Hearts goalkeeper’s difficult second-half cameo didn’t do much good for his hopes of getting more playing time—the Netherlands won 4-0 despite Souttar’s three late goals—former Rangers and Scotland striker Kevin Kyle is not the only one who feels that Souttar should feel a little hard done by for falling so far down the hierarchy.
In fact, if Scott McKenna and Grant Hanley hadn’t been forced to withdraw, he might not have appeared at all.
“(Southtar is) Scotland’s best defender,” Kyle asserts to Open Goal, giving the 25-year-old my vote to defeat Clarke and earn a spot on the manager’s squad for the 2024 European Championship. “Prior to his injury, I thought well of him. I thought he was excellent. I simply enjoy him.
He plays, too, but I just believe he’s a true, proper defense. He can play, but he plays very, very good on defense.
Steve Clarke has Scotland selection headache
At the Euros, Souttar’s aerial skill and presence in the penalty box would undoubtedly be useful, particularly in a group that included Germany and the dangerous Switzerland.
As Kyle notes, Souttar is more than just a basic ball-blocker. At Rangers, he initiates as many attacks as he ends up playing those game-changing passes by charging into midfield.
Souttar has put those injury worries behind him by playing 33 games for Rangers in all competitions this season. In the Scottish Premiership, he has also started the last ten games, scoring against Ross County and dishing up an assist in the team’s 5-0 thumping of Motherwell.
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