Simon returns to Matildas fold after World Cup heartbreak

Star striker Kyah Simon will be aiming to put her World Cup heartbreak behind her when she rejoins a youthful Matildas squad for a training camp in October.

Simon was considered unlucky to miss out on Australia's 23-player squad for the 2019 Women's World Cup in France after failing to prove she had overcome ankle and hamstring issues.

She suffered another hamstring injury while on standby for the squad.

"Thirteen minutes in six months. It's not enough," Matildas coach Ante Milicic said at the time of her omission.

"When I look back at all her match minutes for club and country from January 2018 she's fallen well short. There's been a steep decline."

But Simon has since fully recovered and will headline a 21-player squad for the October 1-9 training camp in Sydney.

The camp will be important preparation for the Matildas ahead of friendlies against Chile on November 9 in Parramatta and November 12 in Adelaide.

The Matildas were knocked out by Norway in the round of 16 at the World Cup, losing 4-1 in a penalty shootout.

Only 12 of the 23 players who were selected for the World Cup will be present for the October training camp.

Regulars such as Sam Kerr, Lisa De Vanna, Steph Catley, Emily van Egmond, Lydia Williams, and Clare Polkinghorne are among the absentees for reasons varying from injuries, club duties, training loads, and personal circumstances.

"This camp will provide a great chance for numerous players on our radar to impress leading up to our November friendly series against Chile in Parramatta and Adelaide," Milicic said.

"As we look ahead to next year's Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers, and beyond that to the new AFC Women's Asian Cup and FIFA Women's World Cup cycle, it is important that we build more depth in the Matildas' playing ranks, and this camp will provide a good starting point for that.

"We will be selecting what we believe will be our strongest possible squad for November's matches against Chile in Australia."

MATILDAS TRAINING CAMP SQUAD:

Mackenzie Arnold (gk), Ellie Carpenter, Emma Checker, Alex Chidiac, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Jacynta Galabadaarachchi. Katrina Gorry, Annie Grove (gk), Amy Harrison, Elise Kellond-Knight, Alanna Kennedy, Chloe Logarzo, Rachel Lowe, Jen McCormick, Teagan Micah (gk), Courtney Nevin, Hayley Raso, Karly Roestbakken, Kyah Simon, Tameka Yallop


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2 min read
Published 23 September 2019 3:39pm
Updated 23 September 2019 3:42pm


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