Leicester 2-0 Stoke: forgotten player forces way into boss’s plans
Leicester City triumphed again in the Championship. Finally, the Foxes saw Australian defender Harry Souttar in the line-up, here is how he faired.
Another clean sheet for Mads Hermansen was ushered in by probably the biggest centre-back pairing in history of football. With two towering giants, the ever-energetic Hamza Choudhury, and the best right-back in the league ahead of him, our new Great Dane had little to worry about.
Leicester City’s Australian defender
The King Power club have a lot to thank for the utter dominance in possession they have under the Italian’s play style. However, they have typically utilised Jannik Vestergaard, Wout Faes, the now injured Callum Doyle, and Ricardo Pereira in the backline. Both Faes and Doyle were left out, against Stoke City, and the now returned Conor Coady was rested.
Yet again, we saw a strong defensive performance. A lot of that has to be given to the Danish centre-back, but Souttar has illustrated why we purchased the player, and what he has to offer the Foxes. Maresca has to have this defender in his plans.
Statistically, the Australian defender is one of the best in the league for clearances, aerial challenges, progressive passing and progressive carries. We saw this in illustration during the match, with little chances aerially for the opposition, and the defender’s heat map has him much higher up the pitch progressing into the attacking third often. Clearly, a strong performance.
Now then, it is worth saying that Souttar is not the replacement to Doyle: he cannot perform that role at all. Instead, Souttar is the Faes role in this team. He can collect the ball from defence and progress it forward, just not too far like Doyle would. Plus, the CB would be able to work more closely with Pereira who is of course the best progressive defender we have.
Next. Leicester 2-0 Stoke: all positives, no negatives. dark
Harry Souttar has got to be in the boss’ plans now that the defender has been involved in another dominating performance. Hopefully this means we see the Australian international in more matches alongside players like Coady and Vestergaard. However, if Faes gets back into the starting XI, it is hard to imagine dropping the in-form Danish defender for Souttar.