Graham Arnold on why Harry Souttar must find a new club, concern for ‘homeless’ Socceroos
Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has given Harry Souttar an ultimatum about his club future, all but telling the towering defender he needs to leave Leicester City at the end of the season for the sake of his international career.
Souttar, 25, will again be one of the first names on Arnold’s team sheet on Thursday night when the Socceroos host Lebanon in a FIFA World Cup qualifier at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium.
It’s been a similar story ever since Arnold gave the Scotland-born Souttar his first Socceroos cap in 2019.
Standing at 200cm, the giant centre-back has been crucial to Australia’s cause in defence, as well as attack, having scored 11 goals in 27 appearances.
Such has been Souttar’s importance that Arnold, who is normally insistent that players must be used regularly by their club coaches to be selected for the Socceroos, has made exceptions for Souttar,
However, Arnold’s patience is wearing out, with Souttar having made just four appearances, and just two of them as a starter, for English second-tier outfit Leicester in all competitions this season.
“It’s his mindset … and he’s so important to the (Socceroos),” Arnold said on Wednesday.
“And with the size of him, he’s (one of our) leading goalscorers … and he’s a leader. In that (centre-back) position, he’s crucial in what we need.
“I know he’s going through a tough time at Leicester. I had a good chat with him today.
“He has to fix it. This can’t go on forever, but what we are doing probably at the moment is helping his career by giving him match minutes during these FIFA (international) windows and showing what he can do, but as a side to him today, this next transfer window is going to be really crucial for him.”
Arnold’s desire for Souttar to play regular
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