Matildas Take Calculated Risk on Mary Fowler's Fitness for Asian Cup Campaign
The Matildas are preparing to take a significant gamble on the fitness of star forward Mary Fowler, with the Manchester City player expected to be named in Joe Montemurro's Women's Asian Cup squad. This decision comes despite Fowler having played just 15 minutes since returning from a knee injury, highlighting the team's reliance on her attacking prowess.
Charli Grant's Unfortunate Absence Looms Large
In contrast, fullback Charli Grant appears increasingly likely to miss the cut when Montemurro unveils his 26-player squad on Thursday. Grant, a popular figure within the Matildas setup, has yet to return for her Women's Super League club Tottenham after sustaining a knee injury last year. Spurs coach Martin Ho recently stated that Grant was "close" to being available, but the defender has not played club football since November, casting doubt on her selection.
An Asian Cup omission would extend a luckless run for Grant, who deputised for the injured Ellie Carpenter ahead of the 2023 Women's World Cup only to see minimal gametime. She played just two minutes in Australia's 4-0 group stage win over Canada and missed selection for the Paris Olympics after the team failed to qualify for the knockout stages.
Fitness Concerns Shape Squad Selection Strategy
AAP reports indicate that the Matildas hierarchy are reluctant to carry players who have not proven their fitness, a lesson learned from past experiences. Montemurro's predecessor, Tony Gustavsson, called up Kyah Simon for the 2023 World Cup squad, but the striker did not see any gametime as she recovered from a knee injury.
Despite these concerns, Fowler is anticipated to receive the greenlight for Australia's Asian Cup campaign, which kicks off against the Philippines in Perth on March 1. The 23-year-old forward made her return from an anterior cruciate ligament injury earlier this month, featuring in a 15-minute cameo during a win over Chelsea. However, she has missed City's last two WSL fixtures with what coach Andree Jeglertz described as a "knock", adding to the uncertainty.
Asian Cup Schedule and Team Expectations
Fowler has not played for Australia since a two-match friendly series against South Korea in April last year, where the Matildas secured victories in both encounters. The team will need to replicate this success in their final Asian Cup group game against South Korea in Sydney on March 8. This match follows their tournament opener and a meeting with Iran on the Gold Coast on March 5.
Ahead of the squad announcement, Montemurro appeared at a Business Sydney breakfast alongside Football Australia deputy chief executive Heather Garriock. Garriock, who played a key role in bringing Montemurro back to Australia from European club football, expressed confidence in the team's setup.
"We've set them up for success," Garriock said. "Nearly 10 or 11 months ago, we appointed one of the best coaches in the world in Joe. We talk about competitive edges, and I can tell you out of the 12 teams at the Asian Cup, we've got the best coach. It took a long time to get him out of contract at Lyon but we got him because we wanted the best."
She added, "Are the players under pressure? Absolutely they are, but this group of players and the quality of coaching and support staff that we've put around Joe and the team, we are set up for success." This statement underscores the high expectations placed on the Matildas as they aim to clinch an elusive major trophy in the upcoming tournament.
