Rangers star ‘in race against time to be fit for Panathinaikos showdown as he DELAYS surgery to represent his country'
RUSSELL MARTIN could be without one of his star men for his first game in charge of Rangers against Panathinaikos next month, according to a report.
The Light Blues will kick off the new campaign with a blockbuster Champions League showdown against the Greek side at Ibrox in just over a month's time - and Martin is up against the clock to get new players in the door before then.
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Russell Martin faces a tricky test in his first game at Ibrox
Credit: PA
But one of his key defenders is also in a race against time, himself, to be fit for the massive second round qualifier double header, it's being claimed.
The Daily Record state that John Souttar is a major doubt for the two massive games after going under the knife in London last week to solve an ongoing hernia issue ahead of the new season.
It's suggested the 28-year-old delayed the surgery to represent Scotland in the two friendlies against Iceland and the Faroe Islands this month.
Souttar played the full 90 minutes in the woeful 3-1 Hampden defeat to Iceland and was an unused sub in Vaduz.
It's believed the centre-back put off the surgery for three weeks, leaving himself with just five weeks to be fit for the first leg clash.
The Rangers squad will being returning to the club's Auchenhowie HQ on Monday to start pre-season training under their new boss Martin.
Souttar won't be involved in the sessions for some time as medical experts usually set aside a period of between four to six weeks for players to return to full fitness from hernia surgeries.
The first leg at Ibrox will be played on either July 22 or 23 with Gers travelling to Greece for the second leg the following week.
Greek giants Panathinaikos were perhaps the toughest of the three sides Rangers could have faced, the others being Servette of Switzerland and Brann Bergen of Norway.
They haven't met since Walter Smith's side squeezed past the Greeks at the last 16 phase as they went on to book their spot in the Uefa Cup final back in 2008.
SunSport understands Rangers are hopeful of bringing in at least FOUR new players before the two games.
Max Aarons and Kwame Poku are both closing in on moves to Ibrox.
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