Mary Fowler has flown back across the world for another bit-part appearance as Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson’s plea failed to cut through at the first opportunity.
Manchester City defeated Everton 2-1 on Saturday to move three points clear of reigning champions Chelsea on top of the Women’s Super League ladder.
But Fowler was forced to watch much of the game from the bench despite starring for Australia in their successful Olympic qualifying campaign last week.
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Gustavsson had noted after the Matildas’ 13-0 aggregate win over Uzbekistan that he hoped clubs would sit up and take notice of the form shown by the likes of Fowler and out-of-favour Real Madrid winger Hayley Raso.
If City boss Gareth Taylor heard the message, though, he still couldn’t find a place for Fowler in his starting line-up.
It has now been over three months since the 21-year-old Aussie last started a league match for City — a concerning situation noted by fans before kick-off.
Several supporters mentioned Fowler when City shared a post on social media asking for predicted starting XIs.
But the possibility always seemed unlikely for a variety of reasons.
Fowler only recently arrived back in England following the Matildas matches in Tashkent, where temperatures hovered around zero, and Melbourne, where they played in 35C conditions.
Beyond the physical factor, Taylor also had little reason to change his line-up.
City entered the Everton clash having won 11 matches in a row in all competitions and made that 12 to heap the pressure on Chelsea in the title race.
Despite missing out on a starting role Fowler was the only player to get off the bench, with Matildas teammate Alanna Kennedy among the unused substitutes.
Matildas midfielder Clare Wheeler, who did not make an appearance in either match against Uzbekistan, returned to her regular starting role for Everton and played the full 90 minutes against City.
City were dominant from the start and gifted a 15th-minute opener when Jamaican ace Khadija Shaw intercepted a misdirected back pass to fire home.
The lead was doubled 10 minutes after the break when England star Lauren Hemp found the back of the net with a fine low curler from distance.
Everton’s Hanna Bennison reduced the gap with another brilliant long-range effort off the crossbar but City had enough control to have the luxury of bringing on Fowler.
It was an impressive 15-minute cameo, too.
The Australian made a stirring run down the left flank and into the box, only spoiled when her right-foot finish went wide of the target.
She then delivered a tantalising cross from the right that Shaw, who now has a league-leading 15 goals this season, couldn’t quite reach.
Gustavsson last week credited Fowler with being able to reach her peak as soon as she came into camp with the Matildas.
“As a national team coach, you obviously are not in control of that whether it’s a loan or getting playing time — that’s a player selection and the clubs do it,” Gustavsson said.
“But what I am very, very impressed about is that there’s a lot of players that have lacked minutes coming into this environment but they still perform and that’s a credit to the player and also a credit to our environment.
“Because when you come into this environment with maybe a lack of minutes and form and lack of confidence, you’re valued, you trust the team and trust the tactics, and you’re able to perform with limited minutes.
“That also makes me a little bit less concerned because I know they can still deliver a performance in here.
“Would I love them to get more minutes? Of course, because that’s how players grow and get better.
“Club coaches watch international games and I think a lot of our players with these two performances send some very clear messages back to clubs that, ‘I want to play’.”
Kennedy, meanwhile, hasn’t been surprised by Fowler’s star turn.
“It’s an exciting time for her, for all of us, to come back,” Kennedy said.
“To be able to play in front of Aussie fans and to play for the Matildas, … we just love it.
“So for her, I’m sure she’s so comfortable and just feels the freedom to be able to express herself on the pitch, regardless of whether she’s had the minutes at City or not, at club.
“But she’s just an unbelievable player and I think whenever she gets an opportunity she’s always gonna create something in any game that she plays. She’s an unbelievable talent.”
– with AAP
