AUSTRALIA BOSS ARNOLD TIPPING SOUTTAR TO HIT TOP OF GAME

GRAHAM Arnold, the Australia manager, is well aware of the huge potential of Harry Souttar as the towering Stoke City defender comes to wider attention. Souttar, aged 22, is being tracked in the Premier League - Everton and Tottenham have been among those watching his progress, Aston Villa linked - as he starts the season as one of the leading players in the Championship.

“There were a few whispers just before we went to the Olympics about a few Premier League clubs [being interested], and he’s gone back to Stoke City, he’s doing exceptionally well,” Arnold told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“He’s got a coach that trusts him enormously in Michael O’neill, but if you look at Harry, he’s probably one of the only players I had at the Olympics that had anywhere near matched all the other players that were at the Olympics for match minutes – [he was] on the field every week and playing. “Harry’s got so much potential. He’s great to have around. He’s got such a great mentality and he’s such a great kid. It’s fantastic for Australia and for Harry if those type of things happen.” Australia and Souttar were in Doha last night for a clash with Oman and will head to Japan for a game on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the FA has published its written reasons behind the different punishments handed to Stoke and Barnsley following the incident in the final minute of last month’s draw at the bet365 Stadium. Stoke coaches Dean Holden, Rory Delap and Barnsley coach Joseph Laumann were all shown red cards by referee Leigh Doughty after a set-to erupted when Holden had dashed into the opposition technical area to speed up a break in play. But an FA disciplinary report stated: “We are of the view that (Barnsley coach) Tonda Eckert’s part in this incident was the most serious. “His behaviour was aggressive and violent from the moment that he confronted Dean Holden. He slapped Holden and later had his arm around someone else’s throat.”

Eckert was fined £2,750 and handed a three-match touchline suspension. Holden and Delap were given onematch touchline bans and fines of £2,000 and £1,800 respectively. Laumann was fined £2,500 and given a two-match ban.