Matildas utility Tameka Yallop says her ankle surgery has been a success as she targets a playing return early next year ahead of the FIFA Women's World Cup.
The veteran of 109 international caps was on hand in Brisbane, where she grew up playing her juniors, when the Queensland capital was announced as the home of the Matildas for the duration of next year's World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Yallop sustained her injury at training for Norwegian club side Brann in September and has missed the past two Matildas camps.
Her hiatus will not last much longer.
"I had surgery just over two months ago now and am on the road to recovery. Hopefully I am running around at Christmas and looking to be back playing early next year leading into the World Cup," Yallop told AAP.
"I did my syndesmosis and had to get a tightrope put through my ankle between the tibula and fibula.
"That will stay in there and has extra support. It should be as strong as it was before so that is the good news.
"Not every injury is textbook. There will be some ups and downs, but I am definitely on my way."
Yallop said she'd had a lot of injuries in her career but no surgeries.
"When I come back I will be going over to my club in Norway and playing in the pre-season in January, so that will be my next training environment."
Yallop lives on the Gold Coast and said playing in the World Cup and being based in Brisbane would be a throwback to when she was training with the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) squad at the upcoming Matildas training venue of the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC).
"For me being so close to home it will feel like walking out the front door to go and play footy," she said.
"I am on the Gold Coast and did the drive up here every year for ten years or so. There are a fair few girls who have gone through that pathway with the Matildas.
"It is exciting for me personally and for a lot of girls on the team because when we come here (to Brisbane) we often play well."
The upcoming World Cup will be her fourth and she said it was an exciting prospect.
The Socceroos made the final 16 of the World Cup in Qatar and despite losing 2-1 to Argentina the players believed they could win the tournament, a mentality which drove their campaign. It is a mindset the Matildas will also have.
"I think if you are going to a World Cup there has to be a certain element of belief. Jut to qualify proves you deserve to be at that tournament," Yallop said.
"Every team at the World Cup will believe they can be competitive."
