Matildas forward Mary Fowler and sister Ciara Fowler sign for Adelaide United’s W-League side

A teenage Matilda, included in Australia’s World Cup squad, and her youth international sister have been unveiled as Adelaide United’s first recruits ahead of the W-League campaign.

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A World Cup Matilda, touted as one of the brightest rising stars in Australian women’s soccer, is among Adelaide United’s first recruits for the coming W-League season.

Four-cap forward Mary Fowler was on Friday confirmed as a Reds player, four months after being part of the nation’s squad in France.

The 16-year-old became the fifth youngest Matilda when she made her debut against Brazil last year and had been tracked by a raft of W-League clubs this winter.

She would be joined at United by her older sister, Ciara Fowler, who had been capped by the Republic of Ireland at under-19 level, courtesy of the siblings’ Irish father.

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SAINT-ETIENNE, FRANCE - OCTOBER 05: Mary Fowler of Australia in action with Griedge Mbock Bathy of France during the friendly match between France Women and Australia Women at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on October 5, 2018 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

Adelaide United recruit Mary Fowler has four Matildas caps and was part of the national squad at this year’s World Cup in France. Pictures: Marc Atkins/Getty Images/Supplied

The duo played for WNPL NSW side Bankstown City this year, but was yet to appear in the national top flight.

Former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic, who handed Mary Fowler her senior international bow at the Tournament of Nations, hailed the attacker’s rich potential.

“She’s probably got the most amount of weapons I’ve seen from a young player her age in women’s football,” said Stajcic, following her maiden national team call-up last July.

“She’s certainly got that instinct for goal. It’s really profound.”

Sisters Ciara and Mary Fowler, pictured with WNPL NSW club Bankstown City, will line up for Adelaide United this W-League season. Picture: AAP Image/Monique Harmer

Cairns-born Mary Fowler shot to prominence last year, when she scored 10 goals in six games for the Young Matildas against senior opposition at the AFF Women’s Championships.

Her stunning arrival convinced Australian boss Ante Milicic to include her in his 23-player World Cup group.

Only a hamstring injury, sustained in training before the Matildas’ opening match, ruled Mary Fowler out of game-time at the showpiece tournament.

“I understand that the age gets mentioned a lot, but at the same time I will always revert back to the footballing quality and that’s something that she does have,” Milicic said.

Mary Fowler in action for the Matildas against world champion the US. Picture: Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images/AFP

“She’s a young player with a lot of potential and we have to have one eye on the future.”

The Fowler sisters would join a quartet of locals who had re-signed for the Reds.

One-cap Matilda Emily Condon, under-20 international Emily Hodgson, 33-goal Adelaide City forward Chelsie Dawber and five-season Reds defender Georgia Campagnale had all committed.

Meanwhile, SA Power Networks had extended its front of shirt sponsorship deal with United’s W-League team for another campaign.