Mary Fowler gives Matildas coach Ante Milicic cause for concern while Laura Alleway’s World Cup is over

Teenagers are taking over the Matildas camp ahead of the World Cup with Mary Fowler the centre of the medics’ attentions while 18-year-old Karly Roestbakken’s been handed the chance of a lifetime.

Update: Mary Fowler has received positive news following her hamstring scare but will likely sit out the Matildas’ opening Women’s World Cup match.

It comes as coach Ante Milicic pledged to overcome the injury setbacks that have left his backline scant on depth for the month-long tournament.

Within hours of defender Laura Alleway being ruled out of the tournament with a suspected stress fracture in her foot, Australia’s 16-year-old wildcard pulled up sore early in the team’s first training session in France.

While it’s believed Fowler was first worried the injury might be serious, scans have cleared her of any serious damage, though team officials said they had sent the results back to Australia for a second opinion.

“She felt something on the hamstring,” Milicic said after it happened.

Mary Fowler is being closely watched ahead of the World Cup

“I’m not going to risk a 16-year-old kid.”

Milicic is loath to risk any player carrying even the slightest niggle in Australia’s opening group match against Italy tomorrow, meaning Fowler’s competitive international debut will almost certainly have to wait at least a few days.

He’ll adopt the same approach with midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight, whose absence was keenly felt in last weekend’s 3-0 friendly loss to the Netherlands.

The 28-year-old trained fully on Thursday but was restricted to walking laps at yesterday’s session and it’s unclear whether she’ll be available for selection.

“You’ve got to look at the bigger picture,” Milicic said.

“It’s very important that we have our best players out on the pitch for that first game, but at the same time you can’t now take an extra risk.

“When you start losing players, the ones you’ve worked with and know your way of playing, you don’t want to take a risk in the first game because you are looking to progress deep in the tournament.”

Most concerning is the departure of Alleway, an experienced campaigner with two World Cups and an Olympics under her belt.

Uncapped 18-year-old Canberra United full-back Karly Roestbakken has been called up in her place.

“We’re all pretty gutted for her,” said centre-back Alanna Kennedy.

“We’re just trying to be around her at the moment while also bringing Karly in as well and making her feel welcome and that she doesn’t feel guilty about it all.

Laura Alleway’s World Cup campaign has ended in heartbreak

“It’s a massive loss.”

It leaves Milicic with no recognised central defensive cover should either Kennedy or Clare Polkinghorne come down with an injury.

Milicic named left-back Steph Catley as the most feasible alternative should the need arise.

“She’s played there in the past,” he said.

“It probably just means we won’t be going to a back three any time soon.

“I’m quite comfortable with where we are, that we can adjust. Of course you want to win the game but I wouldn’t use the word ‘concern’.

“The mood is very upbeat, very confident. These little setbacks are all part of the journey of an Australian footballer

“These girls are very resilient. You just look at the path they went through to get here.

“Rest assured, what we’re going to overcome now in those every stages will just make our results and our progress even sweeter.”

Originally published as Mary Fowler gives Matildas coach Ante Milicic cause for concern while Laura Alleway’s World Cup is over