Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has put his faith in a trio of injured stars ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, selecting veteran Kyah Simon and breakout star Mary Fowler despite lingering concerns about their health and fitness.
Simon, who was cruelled out of the 2019 World Cup with injury, has been included in the squad despite rupturing her ACL back in October while on club duty in England with Tottenham.
She has been in camp in Queensland, but will only get one game’s worth of match fitness into her legs ahead of the tournament opening with Ireland if she is selected for Australia’s warm up game against France.
20-year-old striker Mary Fowler is in a similar boat: she injured her back playing for Manchester City in April and hasn’t played since, but is one of the Matildas’ brightest young players and will be given every chance to get on the field.
Clubmate Alanna Kennedy is also in, though she has not played for the national team since September’s defeat to Canada and hasn’t played for City since March, having suffered multiple injuries across the season.
Tameka Yallop and Clare Polkinghorne are also both included after long injury layoffs.
Captain Sam Kerr and Arsenal star Caitlin Foord headline the Matilas squad, which blends some of Australian football’s most celebrated veterans with a host of young talent blooded over the last two years.
Polkinghorne and Lydia Williams will become the first Australians – male or female – to feature at five World Cups, while the likes of Fowler, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Charlotte Grant represent the future.
“The two and a half years invested in the roster wanted to make sure we built some depth,” said Gustavsson. “If you look at the roster now we have eight backs, eight midfielders and four forwards.
“That’s where Kyah comes into that selection of that last spot, as an attacking a game-changer. We know we are heavy on a lot of attacking talent in this country. That’s why Kyah is selected.”
Mackenzie Arnold
Teagan Micah
Lydia Williams
Ellie Carpenter
Steph Catley
Charlotte Grant
Clare Hunt
Alanna Kennedy
Aivi Luik
Courtney Nevin
Clare Polkinghorne
Alex Chidiac
Kyra Cooney-Cross
Katrina Gorry
Emily van Egmond
Clare Wheeler
Tameka Yallop
Caitlin Foord
Mary Fowler
Sam Kerr
Hayley Raso
Kyah Simon
Cortnee Vine
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