Harry Souttar understands the critical need for consistent club play to secure his valued position in the Australian national team.
The 25-year-old center-back is linked with a potential loan return to Stoke City after starting just one league game for Leicester City, who won the Championship title last season. Additionally, Sheffield United and other clubs are rumored to be interested in his availability.
Currently, Souttar is participating in pre-season training with Leicester, aiming to impress new manager Steve Cooper, who has taken over from the Chelsea-bound Enzo Maresca.
Souttar’s situation is underscored by his almost equal minutes played for his national team compared to his club over the past couple of years, a scenario that needs rectification.
He suffered a severe knee injury while on international duty in November 2021 and only returned to play for Stoke in time to secure a spot in the World Cup just over a year later.
He managed seven league appearances for Stoke in the 2022/23 season before a £15 million move to Leicester.
At Leicester, he made 11 Premier League starts in addition to his single start from the previous term, totaling 19 league starts in the past two-and-a-half years. During this period, he also earned 20 caps for Australia.
Before Steve Cooper’s appointment, Souttar discussed his predicament with ESPN, stating, “It’d be very clear if (Maresca) was still there, my situation – to try and leave the club and get more minutes because I’ve lost out on a lot of football.
To still be selected for the national team I know I need to be playing football. I just have to wait to see what the club does and who comes in and then to try to impress the new manager that comes in.
When I get back for pre-season, we’ll probably have a sit down after a few weeks and have a chat and see where we’re at. I think that’s the best thing to do.”
He continued, “Obviously, we don’t have a manager yet, and I can’t comment or speculate on who it’s going to be. But I’ve just got to give myself the best shot of trying to impress him and the staff that will come in as well. We’ll just go from there.”
Australia’s manager, Graham Arnold, commented on Souttar’s situation ahead of recent international games, expressing surprise at his lack of game-time at Leicester. “What’s important is his club future, but with Harry coming with us and playing well, it promotes him,” Arnold told the West Australian newspaper. “It shows everyone out there how good he is. I’ve been surprised by his lack of game time because of what he’s done for us in the past.”
