CommBank Matildas Interim Head Coach Tom Sermanni said that the “mixed” squad that has been selected for the upcoming two-game series against Argentina will provide fantastic opportunities for new and returning players to impress.
With experienced players such as Ellie Carpenter (personal leave), Katrina Gorry (personal leave), Mackenzie Arnold (injury), Hayley Raso (injury) and Tameka Yallop (injury) all unavailable, it has opened the door for the likes of potential debutants Morgan Aquino, Jada Whyman, Isabel Gomez and Kahli Johnson to impress.
“It’s a fairly mixed squad with a group of our senior international players, but quite a few young players that have been brought into this squad,” Sermanni told the media in Melbourne on Wednesday.
“It's been quite significantly hit with injuries and withdrawals, but the upside of that is it gives opportunities for other players.”
Amy Sayer is one of the returning players in the squad, joining the CommBank Matildas for the first time since rupturing her ACL early last year.
Read More: Full CommBank Matildas Squad
The attacking midfielder started her first game since her return for her club Kristianstads DFF in Sweden over the weekend.
“We've been monitoring Amy, and she's tracking very well,” Sermanni said.
“She's now back getting almost full game time, and she's a player that we really wanted to have a good look at, and get her back in the squad.”
Isabel Gomez has been called up for the second time in her career to potentially make her debut. She was named in the extended squad for the November window last year, but was injured before she could come into camp.
Gomez scored the winning goal for the Central Coast Mariners that sent her team into the Grand Final over the weekend.
“I thought she was the best player on the field in the first leg against Melbourne City,” he said.
“Since she's come back from her injury, she has been week in and week out, a dominant player in midfield.
“It's important for us to call up those young players that are doing well in the A-League Women and have a look at an international level.”
Sermanni gave an update on the health of Sam Kerr, who remains unavailable to join this squad through injury.
“She’s tracking pretty well, but she’s not quite ready yet to come in and play,” he explained.
It was pointed out that Sermanni will hit a major milestone in this international window, having overseen 150 CommBank Matildas games in his coaching career.
The Interim Head Coach laughed it off, while acknowledging that his tenure remains a window-by-window proposition.
“It just means I’m getting old,” he joked.
“It will be nice to get to 150. I don’t know if I get a cap for that!”
