She was heavily strapped up at training but interim coach Tom Sermanni has confirmed Mary Fowler is fit and ready to play in front of a huge crowd at Newcastle. Live from 7:30pm AEST!
The Matildas take on South Korea tonight – follow LIVE in our match centre here! – and will look to improve on their 1-0 win in Sydney on Friday.
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Sermanni was forced to start Fowler off the bench due to her heavy workload with English club Manchester City leading into the international friendly series.
She had a big impact when she did get on the field late in the second half.
Sermanni confirmed that she was fit and ready to play but wouldn’t be pushed on revealing if she would be part of the starting line up.
Fowler, who really announced herself as a future star at the 2023 World Cup, has struggled to find a place in the Matildas.
It’s not her fault. Former coach Tony Gustavsson admitted he was perplexed as to the best way to use the dynamic attacker.
Even Sermanni said it has been an issue during the past nine months.
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The problem is she is just too good. She can play anywhere.
But she needs the right people around her on the field to replicate the results she delivers for her club.
Sermanni said it wasn’t a problem he was able to solve as an interim coach.
“When you look at the players there is flexibility,” Sermanni said.
“I don’t know who’s coming in next, but they might have an entirely different system they want to play.
“But ultimately, from my perspective, as a coach, you want to get your best players out on the field.
“I’m a guy who tends to juggle the system around the players, as opposed to the players around the system.”
Matildas vs South Korea
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Live on Paramount Plus from 7:30pm AEST
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