Rowett names request that says a lot about 'quite incredible' Harry Souttar

Returning from a nightmare run that included a torn Achilles and knee surgery, Souttar was man of the match on Friday night, scoring City’s goal in their 1-1 draw with Millwall and producing a superb defensive display.

His performance after such a long absence was “quite incredible”, Rowett said, and had he been fit for the whole season, he would have helped City get over some of their fatal flaws.

“I spoke about having more bloody-mindedness to score some scruffier goals in one box and defend the other box better,” Rowett said. “Harry Souttar summed that up tonight.

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“He headed everything out of our box. He showed real desire along with Jannik (Vestergaard). In the other box, he attacks it like there’s only one person who was going to score. We’ve missed that.

“For someone to give us that after being out for 450-odd days is quite incredible, and for him to play for 98 minutes. I had the medical and performance team almost begging me at 75 minutes to take him off but he just kept heading the next ball out and it was almost impossible to do it.

“When he’s not played for so long, it’s difficult to risk someone who’s not played for so long when you’ve got two fit centre-halves. It was difficult to get him in the team before now.

“The easy narrative is that he’s played so well, why didn’t we put him in four days ago? But that would have been a risk.

“But you could see what a difference he’d have made (if he’d been fully fit). I think he’d have made a difference to the season. I think he’d have made a difference in the games.

“We’ve conceded a lot of set-piece goals this year, a lot of basic goals with balls in the box that we haven’t defended. Someone like that would definitely help with that.

“Him and Jannik, they do have that aerial presence. There are certain other things that perhaps would be harder to do that Ben (Nelson) and Caleb (Okoli) could do. But those two will go and compete in the duels. I thought they did that really well.

It’s not just Souttar’s aerial ability and defensive awareness that makes him an asset, but his character too, the centre-back keen to be around the matchday group even when he knew he couldn't play.

Rowett added: “He asked to travel about four games ago. He asked to be a part of the group even if he’s not in the squad so he could feel that matchday buzz, feel part of the team and get around all of us. That said an awful lot about him as a character.

“I gave him his full debut so I know all about his qualities. I’m really pleased for him. It’s a little highlight in a game when there’s not been many positives in recent weeks. I thought he was a huge positive this evening.”