Ian Cathro reckons Scotland missed out on a top class international centre half by not handing his former protégé Harry Souttar for a full international cap.
Cathro was delighted to see the Stoke City defender perform so well for Australia at the Qatar 2022 finals and help the Socceroos to make it through to the last 16.
He worked with Aberdeen-born Souttar, the younger brother of Rangers and Scotland player John, during his time as the head of the Dundee United youth academy.
The 6ft 6in 24-year-old, who is now being linked with a £25m move to the Premier League, chose to play for Australia because his mother hails from Port Hedland.
But he represented his homeland at under-17 and under-19 level before switching allegiances and Cathro feels he would have been a potent weapon for current manager Steve Clarke.
“I don’t know exactly when that happened because I remember him playing in the youth teams,” he said. “Obviously something has happened after that.
“There can be lots of reasons why people make those sort of decisions, it could be a special connection or a reason in the family. I’m not privy to that so I don’t know. But he’s certainly a player that would make the team better.”
Asked what it felt like watching Souttar play for Australia in Qatar, Cathro said: “I’m just pleased for him and pleased for his family. It’s nice when there are stories and you know everything that took a player to that point.
“We go back a helluva long time and I know everything he and his brother and his family did to give both of them the opportunity to develop as they have. These moments are nice to reflect on. I’m just pleased for him. I’m happy for him and his family.”
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