The 22-year-old Australian international has enjoyed a breakthrough season with the Potters and has been rated one of their stand-out performers all season in defence.

But a goal was the one thing was missing from his increasingly impressive c.v - as his manager Michael O'Neill has been quick to keep reminding his two-metre tall colossus.

So O'Neill was left almost as delighted as the Scottish-born Souttar himself when the big man used his considerable presence to head home Stoke's second goal in their 2-0 home win over Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

In his 34th game for the club, Souttar threw himself into a header from Tommy Smith's corner to effectively seal the win in the 69th minute and push Stoke to 10th in the table.

"I'm delighted for Harry because I've given him a bit of stick that he's not given us enough in the opposition box," said O'Neill, who reckoned he was impressed by Souttar at either end of the pitch after he also snuffed out the physical challenge of Wycombe striker Uche Ikpeazu.

"It's ironic that he's given it today against one of the more difficult teams to score against from a set piece.

"I thought he was terrific actually because he headed everything, he was good on the ball and it was a really strong, commanding performance.

"I'm delighted he got the goal because it's something we need to get a little bit more out of him and we want the opposition to fear him when we have opportunities in the final third."

Souttar certainly hasn't been so shy in sight of goal for his national team after throwing his lot in with the country of his mother's birth in 2019 and switching his allegiance from Scotland.

On his debut for the Socceroos in a World Cup qualifier against Nepal, he scored twice in a 5-0 win and then delivered two more against Chinese Taipei in his second game.

Australian Associated Press