Back from the most crushing low he's ever experienced in football, Harry Souttar says he just can't wait to launch an exciting new chapter of his great Socceroos adventure on Australian soil next month.
And while confirming he's coming home to his adopted soccer nation for just the third time in March for projected Socceroo friendlies, the Leicester star reckons he's got some unfinished celebratory business to enjoy with his World Cup teammates.
The last time the 24-year-old was in Australia ended in calamity in November 2021 when he ruptured his ACL in the World Cup qualifier with Saudi Arabia.
But Souttar reckoned he felt even more pain the last time he wore the green-and-gold 13 months later with the agonising last-16 defeat to Argentina in the Qatar finals.
"It was the lowest I've ever been in football," he sighed.
So he can't help making it sound as if he'll be trying to exorcise some demons when the new World Cup cycle effectively kicks off for the Socceroos next month, with Ecuador having been flagged up as the Australians' potential opponents.
"The last time I was there I was injured and it's been so long since I've played in Australia, I'm so excited to be going back, I've been telling everyone I can't wait to get out there," enthused Souttar.
"And since the World Cup the lads have all had to go back to their clubs and we never did get a proper goodbye with each other, so it's nice that we'll have a similar squad that can go back and share a celebration."
The thought of how Garang Kuol nearly equalised in the dying seconds of their last-16 tie with Argentina in December and how their conquerors went on to win the Cup can't help but still gnaw away at Souttar.
"From going from such a high (with the group stage victories) through to that last kick of the ball when it bounced off the ground and back into the keeper's arms when it could have gone anywhere, the main thing was disappointment.
"Everyone had played out their skin, so for that to be how it finished kind of left a little sour taste in the mouth - but that's got to fuel us for the next cycle, so we can get to that stage of tournaments again and, with a little bit of luck, we can get further.
"If you look at Argentina's run, Holland probably gave them the hardest game - and then us.
"After Argentina knocked us out, I was certainly thinking if they go out to win it, it'll be nice to know that you only got knocked out by the eventual winners. Overall, it was a really good tournament (for us).
"With the next three-and-a-half year cycle which starts soon, we're so excited for it."
Since Qatar, Souttar has also been buoyed by the news that Graham Arnold is staying on as coach.
"With the boss signing, it's great news for the lads - and for Australian football," he said.
"He's done really well, the lads respect him and really want to play for him, and I think that was shown at the World Cup."
And of his own new-found cult status in Australia, he could only smile: "I've had messages from a lot of Australian kids, saying congratulations, and it's nice to know that over there someone's kind of looking up to you from a young age.
"It's a nice feeling."
