Aussies Abroad: English Socceroos defend stoutly in all-round successful weekend

It was an immensely successful round of action for our Aussies Abroad, with Socceroos playing their part in positive results throughout Europe, Asia and America.

Our weekend wrap begins in England, where one of Australia’s most promising players Harry Souttar impressed yet again.

Following successive clean sheets for the Socceroos, the 198cm defender played ever a full 90 minutes in Stoke City’s 2 – 1 victory over Huddersfield.

The result sees the Potters climb to third on the Championship table, just one point off top spot.

If winning ways continue, Stoke and Australia supporters will be dreaming of big Harry playing in the Premier League next season.

Meanwhile, in other Championship action, Kenny Dougall came on in the 79th minute for Blackpool FC who saw off second-placed Fulham for a 1 – 0 win.

Callum Elder played a full match for Hull City in its 0 – 0 stalemate with Swansea City with the 26-year-old looking composed at left-back at the MKM Stadium.

Midfielder Riley McGree was an unused substitute in Birmingham City’s 2-0 home win against Wayne Rooney’s Derby County.

McGree will be hoping to link up with attacking stalwart Troy Deeney, who recently joined the West Midlands club and now sit seventh in the Championship table.

In League One, ever-reliable defender Bailey Wright was brought on for the final 10 minutes of Sunderland’s home encounter against Accrington Stanley as The Black Cats secured a 2 – 1 win.

It is Sunderland’s third consecutive league victory and keeps them on top of the League One ladder.

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Moving across to Scotland and former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic enjoyed 78% possession during its dominant 3-0 victory over Ross County.

Tom Rogic displayed some customary classy touches in his 78 minutes for the Glasgow giants.

The Hoops are now just 3 points adrift Steven Gerrard’s Rangers who sit on top of the Scottish Premiership table.

Martin Boyle's Hibernian remain unbeaten, but dropped to second place after a 0-0 draw with cross-town rivals Hearts.

The Socceroos attacker overcame injury concerns to play 90 minutes on his return to club football - a day after being named the Scottish Premiership's Player of the Month.

Imposing defender Milos Degenek looked secure as he helped Red Star Belgrade maintain its unbeaten start to the Serbian Superliga with a clean sheet in its 3-0 win over Proleter.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Sounders moved two points clear at the top of the MLS Western Conference with a 1 – 0 home win over Minnesota, with Brad Smith coming on in the 64th minute.

In Denmark, Awer Mabil looked lively in a brief 5-minute cameo at the end of FC Midtjtlland’s 2 – 0 victory over FC Nordsjælland.

The Superliga side bounced back to winning ways and are again looking ominous as they sit on top of the Superliga ladder after 8 games played.

Sunday night saw Ajdin Hrustic start his third consecutive Bundesliga match, playing an hour of Eintracht Frankfurt's 1-1 draw at home against VfB Stuttgart.

Jackson Irvine enjoyed his most minutes yet with St Pauli in the Bundesliga 2., playing the final half-hour of his side's 1-0 defeat to Hannover 96. 

In Spain, Mathew Ryan appeared in his first matchday squad for his new club Real Sociedad, as an unused subtitute in their 2-0 win over Cadiz.

Finally moving to Belgium, Trent Sainsbury played 90 minutes and picked up a first-half yellow card as KV Kortrijk lost 2-1 to OH Leuven.