Kevan Sangster 
Harry Souttar walking out for the Socceroos. Photo: Provided by Aleksandar Jason/Socceroos.
January’s UK transfer window created opportunities and obstacles for several Aussies currently plying their trade in England’s second tier, as they bid to be part of Tony Popovic’s Socceroos squad for the upcoming international friendlies in March.
Australia’s scheduled games against Cameroon and Curaçao are the last chance for players to impress for the national team prior to the World Cup, making minutes and form over the next few weeks incredibly important.
So, which Aussies benefited and who didn’t from the recent Championship coming and goings?
Mohammed Toure
The big winner of the January transfer window sweepstakes from an Australian perspective was undoubtedly 21-year-old striker Toure, who’s $4.8m move from Danish Superliga to Norwich City on February 1 has exceeded all expectations already.
Scoring on his debut as a 51st minute substitute against Blackburn just days after his arrival, Toure then proceeded to score a hat-trick in his first start for Norwich to explode on to the Championship scene.
While he has competition up front from Norwich’s $2.3m summer signing Jovon Makama – who has scored 10 goals in 28 appearances himself this season – Toure’s impressive start to life in East Anglia seems certain to lead to multiple Championship opportunities in the coming weeks.
Having scored his first international goals for Australia against New Zealand in September, the rangy frontman then appeared in both recent friendlies during the November international window. He increasingly looks like a lock for Popovic’s next squad.
Harry Souttar
At the other end of the scale, Leicester City defender Souttar spent the January transfer window continuing to build up his fitness as he bids to return to competitive action later this month.
The 6’ 7’’ centre back hasn’t played competitively since December 2024 after suffering a serious Achilles injury while on loan at Sheffield United, and Leicester are understandably being cautious with his reintroduction to the first team squad.
To complicate Souttar’s predicament further, Leicester signed experienced centre back Jamaal Lascelles from Newcastle on deadline day, increasing the competition for places at the heart of the Foxes defence alongside highly rated academy graduate Ben Nelson.
While Lascelles was mainly signed to replace departing centre back Wout Fous (who joined Monaco on loan), Leicester also have veteran Dane stopper Jannik Vestergaard in the defensive mix, making Souttar’s quest for minutes challenging.
Prior to his injury, Souttar was a regular for the national team and played 90 minutes in both of Popovic’s first two games in charge back in October 2024. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been available since, and time is running out for him to prove his fitness.
Riley McGree
Injury has been a constant concern for McGree too in recent years, but January saw the popular midfielder return to the Middlesbrough first team after several weeks out with a hamstring problem.
McGree has made an immediate impact, scoring once and providing two assists in the two games he has started since returning, helping Middlesbrough climb to the top of the Championship.
With a possible promotion to the Premier League at stake, ‘Boro have been understandably active in the transfer market in January, with attacking midfielder Leo Castledine arriving from Chelsea and winger Jeremy Sarmiento coming in on loan from Brighton.
Both signings are potential competition for McGree, who currently operates on the left of a front three for his club side, but his recent form and enduring reputation on Teesside should ensure he retains his starting place in the short term at least.
Although he hasn’t actually started a game under Popovic since October 2024 (mainly due to injuries), McGree came off the bench in the most recent international fixtures in November and should make the next national squad on current form.
Sam Silvera
Things may not be as straightforward for McGree’s Middlesbrough colleague Silvera, with the versatile winger finding himself out of the starting eleven on Teesside in recent weeks.
Despite an impressive run of form at the turn of the year that saw him notch two goals in three Championship appearances, Silvera has dropped down the pecking order at Boro due to the aforementioned signings of Sarmiento and Carseldine.
He has failed to appear in either of the last two league games – not even making the bench for the latter – and the prospects of getting minutes in a Middlesbrough team that are flying at present seem significantly less likely than they did in December.
At the national level, Silvera featured in the “Soccer Ashes” matches against New Zealand in September 2025 but wasn’t included in the subsequent squads for the October or November international windows. He will be hoping his form for Boro in late December may earn a recall, but don’t count on it.
Nestory Irankunda
Irankunda is a Socceroo having to handle a new club manager, having seen his previous boss Javi Garcia resign from Watford on transfer window deadline day.
His replacement Ed Still was appointed a week later, making him the third Watford manager Irankunda has played under since signing for the club in August last year. Despite the changes, his position as an impact sub – making 16 of his 26 of his appearances from the bench this season – has been relatively constant.
He will be hoping his new manager gives him the opportunity to reverse that trend once his three-match suspension for a recent red card expires this weekend.
The good news for Irankunda is that Watford only brought in defenders and midfielders in the recent transfer window, so his position at the club hasn’t altered significantly in terms of competition. Impressing his new boss will be his primary focus.
The youngster has similarly been used as an impact player at international level, coming off the bench to register 49 total minutes during two friendly games versus Venezuela & Columbia in November. Expect him to make the next squad if he can prove his match fitness.