Socceroos defender Harry Souttar back on the pitch after suffering ACL injury

One star Socceroos defender could yet make the trip to Qatar as he finally returned to play after a 12-month injury lay-off.

Harry Souttar is back for Stoke City. Picture: Ivan Yordanov/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

A World Cup push hasn’t been ruled out for towering Socceroos defender Harry Souttar, who is finally back playing in the UK after 12 months on the sidelines with a knee injury,

Souttar suffered an ACL injury on November 11, 2021, during a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia having been a key plank of coach Graham Arnold’s defence.

His international efforts had numerous Premier League clubs interested in the 23-year-old who finally made his return for the Stoke under-21s in the UK on Monday, with a return to the top team next on his agenda.

Harry Souttar injured himself against Saudi Arabia. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Stoke City manager Alex Neil said Souttar had been in full training for some time. While the club didn’t want to rush his return, Neil said the 198cm defender shouldn’t be ruled out of calculations for the Socceroos’ World Cup squad.

“I think at this point we’re a month away and he’s at the last stages (of his recovery),” Neil said.

“If he plays next week, then he’s still got another three weeks and arguably Harry could fit in four or five games in that period. If you come through four or five games, then there’s no reason why he wouldn’t be available at that point.

.@harryjsouttar starts for the U21s tonight as he steps up his return to fitness 💪 pic.twitter.com/Y7GCOnXpTa

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) October 17, 2022

“That side of it is between Harry and the Australia manager. What I hope for Harry is that if we can get him fit and playing as early as possible, he can do a job for us.

“Hopefully, the World Cup can put him in a better place by the end of it. If that helps him and helps us, brilliant.”

Socceroos assistant coach Rene Meulensteen was on hand for his return against the Nottingham Forest under-21s.

The Socceroos must submit their squad for the World Cup by November 13, with several A-League players also vying for spots on the plane to Qatar.