Pundit 'feels sorry' for John Souttar after Rangers update - 'it's bad management'
Frank McAvennie has suggested Rangers medical staff should have picked up on John Souttar's injury before his move.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider the former Celtic striker said it was "bad management" to allow the 26-year-old to carry over such a bad injury.
As quoted by the Herald (30 September), Giovanni van Bronckhorst confirmed Souttar will be out of action until after the World Cup.
The Scotland international has made just one appearance for the Bears following his move from Hearts in the summer.
The centre-back suffered serious Achilles injuries earlier in his career and missed several games towards the end of the 2021-22 season after picking up an ankle knock.
Souttar hasn't featured for the Gers since his debut on the opening day of the 2022-23 Scottish Premiership.
Van Bronkchorst said that Souttar "brought the problem with him" when he made the switch to Ibrox.
McAvennie said he feels sorry for the defender after his latest setback.
"I don’t think the fans will be too annoyed because you can’t compensate for an injury," he told Football Insider.
"It's the injury that he had when he signed and that is bad management. The medical team, if there was a problem, should have spotted it.
"It is horrible. I feel sorry for him because he got his big move to the club that he wants to go to and he got injured and can’t play for another six or seven months. But if it is something that has been there the Rangers medical staff should have noticed it.
"I feel for him more than anything. I think the fans will be disappointed that he is not playing but they will understand. I was out injured for a year and it was horrible, you feel like you are not part of anything. Especially for Souttar, it is a new club so he will think he is on his own."