The Australia international has not played any football since last December after tearing his Achilles on loan at Sheffield United, but his return may only be a few weeks away
Harry Souttar has only played 16 games for Leicester City in three years
Harry Souttar has only played 16 games for Leicester City in three years(Image: Malcolm Couzens)
Harry Souttar is “desperate to help” Leicester City as he nears his return from a year-long injury.
Article continues below
David Lammy refuses to answer if any further asylum-seeking defendants were accidentally released
The centre-back has not played since tearing his Achilles last December while on loan at Sheffield United.
Article continues below
But over the past week he has been back in team training with the City squad and may now be just a couple more weeks away from featuring.
Article continues below
For Souttar, it’s not just a case of getting his club career back on track, but also proving his fitness in order to get into the Australia squad for the World Cup next summer.
But Marti Cifuentes has seen a dedicated professional who is keen to help City’s cause. With Caleb Okoli out with a knee injury and Wout Faes’ future in doubt as the January window nears, Souttar’s return would be a boost to the squad too.
“He’s desperate to help,” Cifuentes said. “I understand there’s a part of this about the national team for him, and that’s the same for lots of players. But I think in his case, he’s a brilliant professional.
Article continues below
Sign up to FREE email alerts from Leicester City Newsletter
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info
“He’s desperate to help the team in this situation. We have been struggling with the centre-halves and the defenders lately. I’m sure he just wants to do well and to be ready as soon as he can.”
How far away Souttar’s return is depends on how he responds to being back in regular training, but Cifuentes feels the 27-year-old has made all the right steps.
“(The timeline for his return) depends on the kind of injury and how the progress of the player has been,” Cifuentes said.
“Harry is someone who is a very good pro, he works really well since I’ve been here. I’ve seen how hard he works because I spend a lot of hours seeing him around the building.
“It will take some weeks. How many it depends on a lot of things: how he feels better, how we want to use him, how quick we want him to get back.
“The important thing is that once he’s ready, he can really contribute and help the team. I think we’re probably talking, since he started training with the team, a few weeks.”
Article continues below
Souttar joined City in a £15m from Stoke in January 2023, but he’s only played 16 games for the club in nearly three years. He found himself out of favour under Enzo Maresca and was then loaned to the Blades by Steve Cooper.
Be the first to comment