The Matildas have suffered another double setback as they prepare for their final overseas match before the World Cup in the high-profile fixture with England’s Lionesses.
Midfielder Emily van Egmond, the team’s second-most experienced international, and forward Holly McNamara, have been “medically withdrawn” from the already injury-depleted squad to play the European champions in London on Tuesday.
With their striking options stretched and a cloud hanging over Sam Kerr’s fitness, Australia have had to call up Remy Siemsen, who has had injury problems of her own since signing for Leicester City in England’s Women’s Super League in January.
Siemsen, the 23-year-old former Sydney FC attacker, has only played five times for the struggling Foxes, having scored once, but may well be thrust into action at Brentford on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) with choices up front increasingly limited.
Already without injured forwards Caitlin Foord, Kyah Simon and Emily Gielnik, there was no update on Kerr’s availability after Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson had refused to say following Friday’s 1-0 defeat by Scotland whether she was carrying an injury.
Tweet from @TheMatildas
Against the Scots at Wimbledon, the inability of the strikers Larissa Crummer, Cortnee Vine and Mary Fowler to convert numerous chances proved costly as the Matildas’ seven-game winning streak came to a deflating end.
The 127-times capped van Egmond, whose medical problem was not specified, is the latest of Australia’s ‘centurions’ to be forced out of camp with Foord, Simon, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley already unavailable and Kerr possibly set to join them.
Van Egmond will fly back to rejoin San Diego Wave in the NWSL in the US while McNamara will resume duties back at Melbourne City.
The withdrawals and injury absences have made it a difficult ‘send-off’ week for Gustavsson and his world No.10-ranked side as they seek some sort of consistency and cohesion before July’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
England, fresh from their penalty shootout victory over Brazil to win the ‘Finalissima’ at Wembley, won’t make it any easier.
They’re the No.4 side in the world and will be protecting a 30-match unbeaten streak stretching over two years.
-Reuters
