Matildas recall overseas-based stars

Australia have welcomed back some of their overseas-based stars, including in-form forward Kyah Simon, for next week’s clash with women’s soccer world champions Japan.

After using a squad of Australian-based players to win last month’s two-match home series against New Zealand, coach Tom Sermanni on Monday called up some of his foreign legion for the July 11 match in Tokyo.

Boston Breakers striker Simon last weekend scored a match-winner against Chicago in the American Women’s Premier Soccer League, her competition-leading 10th goal of the season and her seventh in the last four games.

Midfielder Tameka Butt, a teammate of Simon’s at Boston, is also back in the Matildas squad along with defender Servet Uzunlar, who is affiliated to Pali Blues in the second-tier American W-League.

The squad includes three uncapped players – goalkeeper Brianna Davey, midfielder Katrina Gorry and attacker Emily Gielnik.

“We’ve had to pick a team that will be competitive as Japan play this match before heading to the Olympics,” Sermanni said.

“With only an 18-player squad it’s about finding the right combination of players for the match we have ahead of us.

“Japan are an extremely difficult team on home soil and are world champions so they will be in peak form for this match.

“In saying that we will be bringing some of our internationally based players in for this match which will strengthen key areas for us.”

Matildas squad: Teigen Allen, Laura Alleway, Melissa Barbieri (capt), Danielle Brogan, Ashley Brown, Tameka Butt, Stephanie Catley, Brianna Davey, Caitlin Foord, Emily Gielnik , Kathryn Gill, Katrina Gorry, Alanna Kennedy, Kyah Simon, Thea Slatyer, Brooke Spence, Servet Uzunlar, Sarah Walsh.