‘Rotten so far’ – Sutton hits back at Caixinha over Rangers midfielder
By James Black
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has fired back at claims that Rangers midfielder Carlos Pena has come in for criticism because he isn’t Scottish – and insist it’s because the Mexican has been “rotten” since his summer move.
The Mexican midfielder has only made three starts since moving from Chivas Guadalajara in Mexico after struggling to find fitness and acclimatise to the Scottish game.
Pena has been substituted early in the second-half in both of his last two starts and has failed to impress supporters to any real degree.
The midfielder has however, managed to get his name on the scoresheet twice in seven appearances as he tries to establish himself in the Gers side.
Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha had suggested Scottish players don’t face the same questions over their fitness levels from pundits but Sutton denied that Pena’s nationality had anything to do with it.
“He has been criticised for being rotten so far and not because he isn’t Scottish,” Sutton said on Twitter.
Pena cost Rangers £2.2million and was Pedro Caixinha’s most expensive summer signing as he rebuilt the squad he inherited from Mark Warburton in March.
The 19-times-capped Mexican international was one of 11 players who joined Rangers during the transfer window.
With the upcoming international break, Pena has two weeks to work on his fitness before returning to action against St. Johnstone on October 13th.
The Gers have been in disappointing form so far this season with two early Ibrox defeats in the league leaving them six points off leaders Celtic and Aberdeen.
Pena, and Caixinha, will need to turn that around before too long with Rangers fans already unhappy after the Europa League defeat to Progres Nierderkorn in July.
In other Rangers news, Kevin Thomson revealed the threat Walter Smith made when a Rangers player leaked team news ahead of a European tie.
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