Matildas coach Joe Montemurro has backed Mary Fowler after the midfielder withdrew from Australia’s upcoming friendlies, insisting the team has enough creative talent to cope with her absence.
Fowler, 23, pulled out of the squad this week ahead of Saturday’s clash with world No.3 Germany and next Wednesday’s match against Haiti.
Montemurro said the decision followed careful discussions and that the circumstances surrounding Fowler’s withdrawal would remain private.
“It’s really important that we create an environment that is important for the player, and as the circumstances are private I’m not going to elaborate,” Montemurro said.
“But yes, absolutely, discussions were had with Mary, with the club (Manchester City), and with the relative people, and we believe that we’ve made the right decision and I think everyone’s in support of the situation.”
Speculation has suggested Fowler may have travelled back to Australia to support her partner, Penrith Panthers star Nathan Cleary, although Football Australia has not confirmed the reason for her return.
Cleary underwent emergency surgery after suffering a serious leg fracture during the Panthers’ NRL preliminary final defeat in late September, with the injury threatening his career.
Mary Fowler has left the Matildas squad ahead of the friendlies against Germany and Haiti for personal reasons
Joe Montemurro said the decision was reached following discussions with Fowler and her Manchester City club
Football Australia has not confirmed speculation that Fowler returned home to support injured partner Nathan Cleary
Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold said she was also unaware of the specific circumstances behind Fowler’s decision.
“I messaged both her and Nathan when it happened just to say, ‘I hope you guys are doing OK’,” Arnold said.
“But yeah, I’m not really sure the actual reason that she’s headed home.”
International players withdrawing from a national-team camp for personal reasons is not unusual, particularly amid the demanding schedule of club and international football.
“At the end of the day, we’re all human. You can’t always base your life around football,” Arnold said.
“I have never personally been in that experience, so I don’t really know how to put it into words.”
Arnold added that any player facing a similar situation should feel able to approach the coach and ask for permission to return home.
“But I would say if I had that situation that I felt the need to go home and I asked the coach for that, and I had full trust in him that he was going to give me that permission, then of course, it’s important,” she said.
“But I think the bottom line is, at the end of the day we’re all human, so if we need to make that decision, then that’s what we need to go with.”
Mackenzie Arnold contacted Fowler and Cleary after his injury to check that they were coping well
The Matildas will meet Germany without creative midfielders Mary Fowler, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry
Australia will be without three of its key creative players for this international window, with Fowler joining Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry on the sidelines.
But Montemurro backed Australia’s ‘very, very talented’ midfield depth.
‘This is now a great opportunity, a fantastic opportunity first of all, to bring them in and to understand what we’re trying to do in terms of from a high-performance scenario, but more importantly now to be able to expose them against some of the best midfielders in the world,’ he said.
Montemurro name-dropped Vittsjo gun Dani Galic, Nottingham Forest midfielder Alana Murphy and uncapped Valarenga playmaker Hana Lowry.
‘They’re names I want you to remember, because I really do believe that they’re going to be the next generation of midfielders,’ he said.
‘And look, I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about the amount of midfielders, and talented midfielders, that we have in Australia, and I think that that needs to be a starting point for us.’
Ranking points are on the line ahead of December’s World Cup draw.
A win over Germany would help world No.15 Australia stay firmly in pot two out of four, meaning a mathematically better draw.
‘I wouldn’t say we really take any game as a friendly,’ Arnold said.
