Arnold: Why Australian fans will love ‘very scary’ Souttar
He's the 20-year-old giant from Scotland who grew up with Caltex Socceroos posters on the walls of Aberdeen home.
That's one of the reasons why Australia should have no trouble falling in love with Harry Souttar, according to Head Coach Graham Arnold.
Souttar is in line to demonstrate the talent that made Arnold so determined to convince the former Scotland youth international to pledge his future to the green and gold of Australia earlier this year, when the Caltex Socceroos entertain Nepal in Canberra on Thursday, October 10.
The defender, who stands at 1.98 metres tall, is already a firm fan favourite at Fleetwood Town due to his uncompromising physicality and threat from set-plays.
In fact, Fleetwood boss Joey Barton revealed in August that the League One club were devising their dead-ball strategy around the aerial dominance of the on-loan Stoke City centre back.
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How to watch Caltex Socceroos v Nepal live and free
Arnold is convinced Souttar will endear himself to the Australian public sooner rather than later - and potentially when the Caltex Socceroos host Nepal at GIO Stadium next Thursday.
"I think that the Australian fans will love Harry Souttar," Arnold told FOX Sports on Friday.
"He's a player. The size of him is pretty scary. He's a very, very good footballer.
"The work that I was doing overseas to find the kid... the conversations that we had with Harry around coming to play for Australia were fantastic."
Souttar is eligible to play for the Caltex Socceroos due to his mother, who hails from Port Hedland in West Australia.
His dreams of representing Australia were crystallised when he accepted a call-up to Arnold’s squad for the AFC Under-23 Championship qualifying campaign.
How to watch Caltex Socceroos v Nepal live and free
His older brother John – who plies his trade in the Scottish Premier League for Heart of Midlothian - is already a Scotland international.
But representing Australia was always the natural choice for Harry.
"He grew up with his idols, the posters in his bedrooms of Australian Socceroos as a kid," Arnold said.
"That was how passionate he was to play for Australia. His brother has chosen to play for Scotland. So, let's bring on a game of Australia v Scotland."
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