SOUTTS IN RACE TO FACE GREEKS

Euro KO fear after surgery delay

- By Blair Esson

JOHN SOUTTAR is in a race against time to be fit for Rangers' Champions League qualifier with Panathinaikos after he delayed summer surgery to team up with the Scotland squad.

The first leg of the second qualifying round clash is at Ibrox on July 22, with the return in Athens the following week in what will be Russell Martin's first competitive games as manager.

Key defender Souttar is believed to have had an operation in London last week to mend a hernia issue. He opted against having it done sooner in order to make himself available for the friendlies against Iceland and Liechtenstein.

However, that has left the 28-year-old desperately short of time to be fit for the double-header against the Greek giants.