Harry Souttar is “eager to contribute” to Leicester City as he edges closer to making his comeback after a year-long layoff.
The centre-half hasn’t featured since rupturing his Achilles last December while on loan at Sheffield United.
However, over the past week he has resumed full training with the City squad and could now be only a couple of weeks away from being available for selection.
For Souttar, it’s not just about reviving his club career, but also proving his fitness in order to secure a place in Australia’s World Cup squad next summer.
Marti Cifuentes, though, has witnessed a committed professional who is determined to aid City’s efforts. With Caleb Okoli sidelined with a knee problem and Wout Faes’ future uncertain as the January window approaches, Souttar’s comeback would also provide a timely lift for the squad.
“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.
“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 soon Souttar returns depends on how he adapts to being back in intensive training, but Cifuentes believes the 27-year-old has taken all the necessary strides.
“(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.”
Souttar moved to City in a £15m deal from Stoke in January 2023, but he has made only 16 appearances for the club in nearly three years. He fell down the pecking order under Enzo Maresca before being loaned to the Blades by Steve Cooper.