John Souttar ready for Rangers test as Robbie Neilson reveals defender didn't want Ibrox move 'on the cheap'

Robbie Neilson revealed John Souttar is ready to play his part at Ibrox just four months before he is set to join Rangers.

And the Hearts boss told how the Scotland stopper didn’t want to move to the Scottish Premiership champions “on the cheap”.

The Tynecastle club kicked out a deadline day bid of around £400,000 for the 25-year-old to make the move to the Light Blues for the second half of the season.

That means Rangers have to wait until the summer for the player to join up after he penned a pre-contract.

Souttar has been struggling with injury but Neilson expects him to return to training on Saturday and is in line to feature when his current side and future club clash at Ibrox.

Neilson told Sky Sports: “John should be available for selection. He hasn’t trained but we expect him back tomorrow and if he gets through that he’ll be fine.

“I’ll be more than happy to play him He’s one of our best players and one of the reasons we fought so hard to keep him here until the summer.

“He’s so important to us and if he’s ready he’ll play. John has been 100 per cent professional right the way through.

“He was very strong with us as well and didn’t want to go on the cheap and wanted us to get what we deserved.

“We didn’t get that offer so we made the decision to keep him and he’s more than happy to do that for us.

“He’s a great professional, great kid, and he’s proven that with the injuries he’s come back from - many wouldn’t come back from one and he’s come back from three. I’ve great belief that if we put him he’ll take it in his stride.”

Neilson wants to eat into the 13-gap to Rangers who sit in second place in the table and can take belief from their 1-1 draw at Ibrox back in October.

He said: “We’ve got to go with