Westfield Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has recalled attacking midfielder Samantha Kerr after a year-long absence for this month’s tour of North America.
Westfield Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has recalled attacking midfielder Samantha Kerr after a year-long absence for this month-s tour of North America.
Kerr was a key member of the Matildas- 2010 Women-s Asian Cup-winning team and 2011 FIFA World Cup campaign, but has missed much game time following a knee reconstruction.
The highlights of the three-game, 12-day tour will be two matches against newly-crowned Olympic champions and the world-s no.1 ranked nation the USA.
The world no.9-ranked Matildas will warm up against Haiti in Indianapolis before taking on the USA in Los Angeles and Denver.
The 20-player squad will rely on two rookie teenage goalkeepers, 17-year-old Brianna Davey from Melbourne Victory and 18-year-old Canberra United keeper Mackenzie Arnold.
Senior goalkeepers Lydia Williams (knee), Casey Dumont (groin) and Melissa Barbieri (pregnancy) are unavailable, giving the next generation a chance to shine.
The defensive ranks are further depleted by the continued absence of FIFA Women-s World Cup All-Star full back Elise Kellond-Knight, who is yet to fully recover from her knee complaint and will remain home to continue rehabilitation.
“Two matches against the world-s top team on their home soil is a daunting challenge to say the least, but it-s the sort of test that will help us in the long-term,” Sermanni said.
“These games are part of celebration tour by the USA after winning Gold in London, so our job is to spoil the party if we can.”
The squad departs for North America next Monday 10 September.
The North American tour schedule
Westfield Matildas v Haiti, 13 September 2012 Local kick-off: 7:00pm (AEST, 9:00am 14 September 2012), Indianapolis, Indiana
USA v Westfield Matildas, 16 September 2012 Local kick-off: 12.30pm (5.30am AEST, 17 September 2012), The Home Depot Center, Carson, California, USA
USA v Westfield Matildas, 19 September 2012 Local kick-off: 8.00pm (12.00pm AEST, 20 September 2012), Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City (Denver), Colorado
Westfield Matildas squad 10-22 September 2012
Player Apps / Goals Teigen Allen 16 / 0 Laura Alleway 10 /0 Mackenzie Arnold - Danielle Brogan 3/0 Ashley Brown 3/0 Stephanie Catley 3/0 Brianna Davey - Lisa de Vanna 82/26 Caitlin Foord 10/0 Emily Gielnik 1/0 Kathryn Gill 71/34 Michelle Heyman 6/2 Alanna Kennedy - Samantha Kerr 18/3 Collette McCallum 72/11 Clare Polkinghorne 55/2 Kyah Simon 37/7 Servet Uzunlar 32/1 Emily van Egmond 11/3 Sarah Walsh 74/37