Not every day witnesses the outspoken ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton praising Rangers, a rarity made more significant due to his post-playing career characterized by taunting Rangers fans and airing questionable conspiracy theories about referees. Despite his usual silence on recent VAR reviews, Sutton surprisingly offered admiration for two standout Ibrox players this season in his latest column for the Daily Record.

As Scottish football gears up for awards season, the PFA Scotland Player of the Year nominees were unveiled, featuring Rangers’ James Tavernier and Jack Butland alongside Celtic’s Matt O’Riley and Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland. Sutton commended Butland and Tavernier, asserting their rightful place in the Player of the Year race without any dispute.

Sutton highlighted Butland’s pivotal saves and Tavernier’s impressive assist record, noting his defensive reservations about the latter. He further broke convention by tipping Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland as his top choice for Player of the Year, emphasizing his crucial role at Hearts and the impact of his potential move to Rangers on the Tynecastle club.

With Shankland visiting Celtic Park, Sutton’s endorsement adds an intriguing layer to the unfolding narrative, setting the stage for a potentially eventful clash.