What Rangers-bound John Souttar has been like at Hearts since news of deal broke

Playing for one club after signing for another is a strange and perhaps undesirable arrangement. It is, though, not uncommon.

Craig Halkett knows what John Souttar is currently going through as his Hearts centre-half partner prepares for a match where he may well find he is jeered by some of his own supporters as well as those of the opposition.

Souttar has signed a pre-contract to join Rangers from Hearts this summer. Although deals are often struck to facilitate an earlier departure this hasn’t happened to date in this case.

An escape route could yet present itself providing the Ibrox club offer what Hearts regard as an acceptable fee for the international defender. As it stands, however, Souttar looks set to experience a very surreal 90 minutes against Celtic tonight after recovering from the ankle injury that sidelined him against Auchinleck Talbot at the weekend.

The disapproval of some Hearts fans was very audible during the 2-0 win over St Johnstone last midweek.

But Souttar wasn’t also jeered by away supporters on that occasion. It is set to be a very different and far more challenging scenario this evening when Rangers’ great rivals are in town. Tynecastle could become a very hostile and unappealing environment for someone who, remember, is only 25-years-old.

Halkett backs his teammate to not only cope but also keep pitching in. Indeed, Souttar scored the winner on the last occasion that the teams met at Tynecastle in August.

“I’ve said before that the changing room here is really, really good,” said Halkett. “We all get on and have a good laugh. I don’t think anyone would take too kindly to someone if they thought they were downing tools and weren’t going to try. That’s not the case at all. John’s been working