Now that he finally “feels like a player again”, towering defender Harry Souttar is determined to help the Socceroos get their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on track by beating Indonesia in Jakarta on Tuesday night.
The Socceroos can ill-afford another poor performance after suffering a shock 1-0 loss to Bahrain last Thursday on the Gold Coast.
“We’ve got a game on Tuesday, so we’ve got to put it (the defeat) behind us,” Souttar said.
“We’ve all looked at ourselves in the mirror. It’s just so important that we get back to work.”
Souttar remains one of the first players Socceroos coach Graham Arnold writes on his team sheet, however the 25-year-old centre-back’s ongoing selection in the national team in the past 12 months has been scrutinised due to a lack of football at club level,
In Leicester City’s 2023-24 campaign, Souttar made just four appearances in all competitions.
Despite Arnold continuing to show faith in him, Souttar knew he had to leave Leicester for the sake of his career at club and international level.
It was therefore a huge relief last month when he moved on loan to English Championship club Sheffield United.
First training completed. Spirits lifted. Full focus on Tuesday night. 💪
Hear from #Socceroos goalkeeper @Joe_Gauci18 after our first session in Indonesia. 👇
“It’s just really great to be playing, to feel like a player again, and to get treated like a proper football player is really nice,” Souttar said.
“Obviously coming back to play (for the Socceroos) feeling really good and feeling fit, it helps massively on the pitch when you’re playing week in, week out.”
Not that Souttar felt he didn’t deserve selection in Australia’s team when he was on the outer at Leicester.
“Everyone’s got their opinion. I know there was a lot said about me getting selected for the Socceroos when I wasn’t playing, but I felt that my performances for the national team warranted that,” he said.
“I’ve got to thank the boss (Arnold) for having faith in me and keeping to select me.”
Souttar was also grateful to Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder for making him feel wanted again.
“It’s been great. I’ve really enjoyed my first few weeks there,” he said.
“I’m thankful that they’ve come in for me, and given me somewhere to show what I can do.
“It’s a great club, they’re good people, and even though it’s kind of a new playing group, it’s one that’s going really well, and hopefully we’re going from strength to strength.
“Every time we pay together and train together, it’s just really enjoyable. Hopefully that continues this season.”
So highly is Souttar regarded at his new club that he wore the captain’s armband in his Sheffield United debut, a 4-2 English League Cup win over Wrexham.
“It was an absolute honour to get the armband in that game for such a massive club,” he said.
“We know the expectations we’ve got this season, and I’m just trying to do my best.”
