Mary Fowler, the forward for Australia's national women's soccer team known as the Matildas, is expected to be included in the squad for the upcoming Women's Asian Cup, set to begin on March 1 against the Philippines. This decision seems risky since Fowler has only managed to play 15 minutes for her club Manchester City since recovering from an ACL injury sustained in April 2025. The gamble reflects the coaching staff's confidence in her abilities despite limited recent match experience.

In terms of squad dynamics, Charli Grant, another key player and fan favorite, is likely to be left out of the squad for the tournament. Grant has been unavailable for selection as she continues to recover from a knee injury, which has kept her from participating in matches for Tottenham in the Women’s Super League. The coach of Tottenham, Martin Ho, has indicated that while Grant is close to returning, her absence could impact the Matildas' depth.

As the Matildas prepare for the Asian Cup, the coaching staff will be weighing the risk of including an unfit player against the potential rewards of Fowler's presence on the pitch. The upcoming squad announcement will shed light on the final decisions made by Joe Montemurro, the national team coach, as the team aims to make a strong showing in the tournament despite injury concerns affecting player availability.