John Souttar on Rangers boss Michael Beale talks and what he needs to prove to boss before end of season

John Souttar felt the backing of Michael Beale before the manager had even seen him pull on a Rangers strip. Now the defender is determined to prove his boss right and show he’s fit to wear the jersey between now and the end of the season.

With a Scottish Cup semi final against Celtic just nine days’ away that means doing everything he can to keep his place in the starting XI when Connor Goldson returns from injury starting on Sunday against Aberdeen. Souttar openly admits his start to life at Ibrox has been anything but comfortable.

The 26-year-old’s big move from Hearts last summer took just 90 minutes to turn sour when, after his debut at Livingston on the opening day, he missed the next seven months with a fractured ankle. By the time he was fit again in early March, Gio van Bronckhorst had been sacked and replaced by Beale meaning the club had had more managers in a season than he had had games.

Frustrations at being sidelined and concerns about the departure of the manager who had signed him could have led to major doubts creeping into the Scotland international’s head.

But as he stepped up his rehab in January Beale praised Souttar and tipped him to go on and become a Scotland regular saying: “He’s a good player who can step into midfield with the ball and who I had watched in my previous time here, so I was delighted to inherit him. If John can play consistently he’ll be a good player for Rangers, and then onwards and upwards for Scotland.”

Souttar insists that backing has been crucial He said: “When a new manager comes in you want to be fit to almost prove to him what you can do.

“There were a few injuries at the time and it’s not ideal him coming in and you’re injured. To be fair he’s always came out and backed