Matildas set to gamble on Fowler fitness in Asian Cup squad

Matildas expected to name Mary Fowler in Asian Cup squad, injured Charli Grant set to miss outTopic:Matildas7m ago7 minutes agoTue 17 Feb 2026 at 8:09pmMary Fowler is set to make her Matildas return in the upcoming Women's Asian Cup. (Getty Images: Andy Cheung)In short:Mary Fowler is expected to be named in Australia's Women's Asian Cup squad despite having played limited minutes in her return from injury.Fowler has played only 15 minutes for Manchester City since injuring her ACL in April 2025.What's next?The Matildas squad will be named on Thursday ahead of their tournament opener against the Philippines on March 1.abc.net.au/news/matildas-set-to-gamble-on-fowler-fitness-in-asian-cup-squad/106357060Link copiedShareShare articleThe Matildas will roll the dice on Mary Fowler's fitness with the Manchester City forward expected to be named in Joe Montemurro's Women's Asian Cup squad despite playing just 15 minutes since returning from a knee injury.But there looks to be no such luck for Charli Grant who is increasingly likely to miss the cut when Montemurro unveils his 26-player squad on Thursday.Grant — one of the most popular members of the Matildas set-up — has yet to return for her Women's Super League (WSL) club side Tottenham after sustaining a knee injury last year.Spurs coach Martin Ho said last week Grant was "close" to being available but the defender has not played club football since November.An Asian Cup omission would continue a luckless run for the full-back.Charli Grant is likely to miss out on selection due to injury. (AAP: Dave Hunt)Grant deputised for the injured Ellie Carpenter in the build-up to the 2023 Women's World Cup only to then see just two minutes of gametime — in the dying stages of Australia's 4-0 group stage win over Canada — at the tournament.Grant also missed out on selection for the Paris Olympics when the Matildas failed to qualify for the knockout stages.Sam Kerr's sights are set on the Asian CupMatildas captain Sam Kerr was just 16 when she helped the team win the Women's Asian Cup — their first, and to date only major trophy. Now she's leading the side at home, ready for another shot at glory.Fowler, however, is expected to be given the green light to feature in Australia's squad for the Asian Cup, 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.Fowler was given a 15-minute cameo in a win over Chelsea but has missed City's last two WSL fixtures with what coach Andree Jeglertz described as a "knock".The creative forward hasn't played for Australia since a two-match friendly series against South Korea in April last year.Australia beat the Koreans in both matches and will need to do similar in Sydney in their final Asian Cup group game on March 8.The Korean clash comes after the Matildas' tournament opener and a meeting with Iran on the Gold Coast on March 5.Joe Montemurro will lead the Matildas into a home Asian Cup campaign with high expectations. (Getty Images: Paul Kane)Football Australia (FA) deputy chief executive Heather Garriock, who lured Montemurro back to Australia from European club football, said the Matildas coach had been given all the tools to ensure the team's golden generation are in a position to clinch an elusive major trophy."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."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."AAPPosted 7m ago7 minutes agoTue 17 Feb 2026 at 8:09pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionSportAussie's Olympic slopestyle final postponed as snow causes delaysLIVE