Harry Souttar has been a key player for Australia at the World Cup and will be optimistic about the Socceroos' chances of progressing to the last 16 of the competition when they take on Denmark this afternoon.
It speaks volumes to how valued the centre back is on the international stage, that he made the squad for the tournament despite being out for so long prior to it with a serious knee injury.
Stoke City have not been the same team since Souttar's injury last season and Alex Neil will be hoping that the 24-year-old's return to fitness can be the catalyst for the Potters to climb the table.
However, gaining admirers by the game on the biggest stage of all could make it difficult for the Potters to retain Souttar's services past January.
Ryan Shawcross weighed in on Souttar's recovery and potential future pathway when he spoke to StokeonTrentLive.
He said: "Harry’s done amazingly to be called up in the first place after such a long time out with injury and then to play.
"Fair play to him and the medical staff at Stoke. That was a long time out so to get into condition like this is no mean feat.
"He looked a little tired in the second half against France but he did ok and then he did really well against Tunisia, playing as we’ve come to expect.
"People always refer to his size but I don’t think that’s his biggest strength, in fact he might use that more.
"His biggest strength is his footballing intelligence.
"He’s very rarely out of position, he doesn’t have to make very many last ditch challenges, he’s quicker than he’s given credit for and he’s very good on the ball, which is an added bonus.
"Stoke will struggle to keep hold of him if he returns and picks up where he was before the injury and how he played at the weekend.
"He’s 24 now and football is a short career.
"You want to get to the Premier League and stay there for as long as you can.
"If you can play four or five years in there you’ve had a very good career."
The Potters have four Championship matches remaining before the window opens, and despite underwhelming for the majority of the campaign so far, the six-point gap to the play-offs is bridgable.
The Verdict
Souttar is a Premier League player in waiting and has picked up where he left off before the injury, that he suffered last season.
Had that not happened, there is a strong chance that the towering defender earned a Premier League move in January of this year, and it feels like a matter of when rather than if he joins a top-flight club.
However, his lack of domestic action, making just one senior appearance ahead of the World Cup, could work in the Potters' favour, at least in aiming to keep Souttar until the end of the season.
Having tied him down to a deal until the summer of 2025, they are in a strong position to at least recoup a hefty fee for his services.