Graham Arnold says he is “surprised” by Harry Souttar’s lack of game time at Leicester City and is urging the tall center-back to use next month’s internationals as an opportunity to showcase himself in the shop window.
Australian coach Arnold has recalled the Foxes defender for the games in Bangladesh and against Palestine in Perth, which are effectively dead matches and merely give the Socceroos a chance to improve their FIFA ranking and help them qualify for the World Cup.
But the 25-year-old, who has played very little under Enzo Maresco’s management, making just four appearances and only one appearance in the World Cup, could have won more. Arnold has previously spoken of the need for Souttar, who has four years left on the contract he signed in January 2023 when he moved from Stoke City for £15m, to get regular first-team game time.
He seems a prime candidate to leave the King Power Stadium this summer if City can find someone willing to take him.
“His club future is important, but by Harry coming to us and playing well it promotes him,” Arnold told the West Australian.
“It will show everyone how good he is. I was surprised at his lack of game time because we saw what he did against England at Wembley and what he has done for us in the past.
“His club career is very important and he’s one of those players who desperately wants to come back to camp and play those two games.”
Arnold was also keen to stress the importance of the matches against Bangladesh and Palestine: “We can qualify for the first round by winning both games, we are very close to South Korea at the moment. We are just a hair’s breadth behind South Korea.
“I will make some choices for the future, but I will choose a lot of players that we have had for a while so we have the consistency to win these two games.”
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