Will Clark - World Cup stars good enough for Australia but not for Scotland?
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WATCHING the World Cup, I wondered how a player like Harry Souttar has managed to slip through Scotland’s hands.
Representing Australia, he was one of their best players at the tournament, most notably his man of the match performance in the 1-0 victory against Denmark which secured their place in the last 16.
Souttar was born in Aberdeen and played for Brechin City Boys Club, before moving to Celtic and Dundee United during his youth career. He is eligible to play for Australia as his mother was born there.
Souttar was at Dundee United before moving to Stoke City and spent time on loan at Ross County in 2018 where he played 13 matches in the season the Staggies were relegated.
I remember during his time at Ross County, staff at the club urged Scotland to keep an eye on him as a star for the future for the squad.
Despite playing for Scotland at under-17 and under-19 level, Souttar opted to play for Australia at senior level.
Watching his performances at the World Cup, one can only lament the job he could have done for Scotland at centre back where we could do with some star quality.
He wasn’t the only Scottish born player Australia called up to the squad. Former Hibernian and Rangers players Jason Cummings, through his Australian mother, was also called up to the World Cup squad.
Hibernian winger Martin Boyle, born in Aberdeen, was also called up for Australia as his dad was born there.
But he was unable to play in the team after suffering an injury.
However, the question has to be asked, if these players are good enough to play for Australia, why aren’t they good enough to play for Scotland?
I have praised Steve Clarke for giving players in the Scottish Premiership a chance of appearing for the national squad, whereas other managers have been less inclined to do.
Stephen O’Donnell from Motherwell is one player in question who I felt was rightly given his chance to play for Scotland and in my opinion has never let the team down in any game he played.
But, with previous Scotland managers, I have felt they took too much advantage of the granny and granda rule, to find players in the English Championship who have a Scottish grandparent.
Previous managers may feel that the English Championship had players of a higher standard compared to those who play in the Scottish Premiership.
But has that cost us the likes of Souttar and Boyle, who I feel are more than good enough to play in the Scotland team?
Did Souttar’s season at Ross County, when they got relegated to the Championship, result in him being thrusted out of any thoughts of national selection in the future?
Did Boyle’s three years at Montrose and further three years at Dundee keep him under the radar, despite an impressive career at Hibernian?
Cummings’ selection for Australia came as a surprise to everyone.
But he has had a superb season at Central Coast Mariners which won him a place at Qatar.
Scotland’s loss is certainly Australia’s gain and in a national squad, despite improving at international level, can’t afford to lose talents like these who would be more than good enough to pull on a blue shirt at Hampden.
