A rejuvenated and in-form Mary Fowler has been named to return to the Matildas set-up after opting to withdraw from the side's most recent international window. Fowler was rested from November's friendlies on home soil due to fatigue but is being welcomed back to the fold for the SheBelieves Cup tournament in the USA later this month. The extra time off appears to have done the 21-year-old Fowler a world of good, with the Manchester City striker netting three goals and registering four assists across her five games since the turn of the year.

While Fowler will provide a welcome boost for the Matildas, there is still no timeframe on when star striker and former captain Sam Kerr will return to play for her country as her recovery from a serious knee injury continues to drag on. Kerr is currently on trial in London, charged with racially aggravated harassment of a police officer following an incident in January 2023. The alleged altercation occurred after Kerr and her partner, Kristie Mewis, had been out celebrating and were driven to Twickenham police station.

Mary Fowler is back on the pitch, back in form and now is back in the Matildas squad. Sam Kerr is facing a trial in the UK and is recovering from a severe knee injury that ruined her 2024 season. Kerr is back in training but is not rushing to be back on the pitch. Meanwhile, Kerr has been recovering from an ACL injury sustained in January 2024, which sidelined her for the rest of Chelsea's season and the Paris 2024 Olympics.

She has faced setbacks in her recovery, with Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor stating Kerr is unlikely to return before February or March 2025. 'The injury is good,' Kerr told Optus Sport ahead of the 2024/25 season. 'I'm not putting a date on my return, just making sure I get it right and making sure I feel good before I get back on the pitch. 'I mean, it's my second ACL, so I know you need to take the time, you need to make sure it's right and I'm doing everything I can.

'But there's definitely no rush for me, I want to make sure I can play for many more years to come.'. As well as Fowler's return, interim coach Tom Sermanni has brought the experienced midfield duo of Clare Wheeler and Katrina Gorry back into his squad. Melbourne City forward Holly McNamara has also earned a recall after a success return to club football in the A-League Women (ALW) following anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

There is one debutant in Sermanni's squad with Brisbane Roar winger Laini Freier in line to win her first cap. Freier has seven goals in 10 ALW games so far this season. Australia will play Japan in their tournament opener on February 21 (AEDT) before facing the USA and Colombia later in the competition. 23-PLAYER MATILDAS SQUAD:. Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Chloe Lincoln, Teagan Micah. Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Charlotte Grant, Winonah Heatley, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Natasha Prior.