Towering defender Harry Souttar has played 90 minutes and scored in his first game in 483 days in a huge boost to the Socceroos' World Cup hopes.
Leicester City's Souttar tore his Achilles in December 2024 before having his return pushed back by knee surgery which dented his hopes of making Australia's World Cup squad.
Before his injury troubles, Souttar had been out of favour and rarely used at Leicester but was a pivotal part of the Socceroos' defence.
- Socceroos 'on a mission' to ruin USMNT's World Cup
- Three questions hanging over the Socceroos ahead of the World Cup
Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has always kept Souttar in his plans and pondered bringing the defender into camp during the March window before leaving him at Leicester.
The defender could form an ominous back three with Cam Burgess and Alessandro Circati.
After he was an unused substitute in Leicester's previous three Championship games, during which the Foxes were relegated to League One, Souttar was finally called upon on Friday against Millwall - his first game for the club in 853 days.
Souttar was a powerful presence in defence all evening, recording 14 clearances, winning eight out of 10 duels and sitting at 73 per cent passing accuracy.
The Socceroo might not have been on the pitch though to score had he been sent off for a first-half elbow into the face of Lions substitute Mihailo Ivanovic.
But Millwall boss Alex Neil knows the Socceroo and was confident he didn't mean it.
"I haven't seen it back but I know Harry, I had Harry as a player and I don't think he is a dirty player by any means," said Neil.
"If I see it back and think he has meant it I would be extremely surprised."
Souttar put Leicester in front in the 78th minute when he bundled home Luke Thomas's cross, though Macaulay Langstaff equalised in the 91st.
The performance was a reminder of the ability and leadership that earned Souttar a huge move to Leicester, when they were in the Premier League, following a standout 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
"He headed everything out of our box - and then the one opportunity gets in the other box, he attacks it like there's only one person going to score, and we've missed that," Leicester boss Gary Rowett said.
"And for someone to give us that after being out for 450-odd days, it's quite incredible for him to play 98 minutes.
"I had the medical and performance team almost begging me at 75 to take him off, but he just kept heading the next ball."
The Foxes have one more match, against Blackburn Rovers on May 2, before Souttar's season finishes - likely leaving with him with a decision on whether to seek a summer transfer.
The defender would then likely be among the first players to link up with the Socceroos for a pre-World Cup selection training camp and seek more game time in friendlies ahead of the tournament.
Souttar and his older brother John, who plays for Scotland, are both seeking World Cup selection.
The Socceroos have a training camp in Sarasota, then play a friendly against Mexico in Los Angeles on May 30 (May 31 AEST) - the last game before Popovic selects his squad - before relocating to their Bay Area base.
Australia then play Switzerland on June 6 (June 7 AEST) in San Diego, their final warm-up game.
The Socceroos face Turkey in Vancouver on June 13 (June 14 AEST), the United States in Seattle six days later then Paraguay in Santa Clara on June 25 (June 26 AEST).