Midfielder and mother Katrina Gorry set to make her first appearance for the Matildas in two years

Having given birth to her first child last year, Katrina Gorry is set to play for the Matildas for the first time since 2020.

Katrina Gorry passes the ball while playing for Brisbane Roar against Canberra United. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has lamented the absence of Katrina Gorry from Australia’s failed Asian Cup campaign, saying the skilful midfielder’s presence could have helped avert his team’s quarter-final loss to South Korea.

Gorry is set to make her first Matildas appearance since last year’s birth of her first child after being named in Australia’s squad for next month’s two-match series against New Zealand.

The 29-year-old midfielder, who is set to join Swedish club Vittsjö GIK after playing for Brisbane Roar in the recently completed A-League women’s season, has 78 caps for Australia but hasn’t played for the Matildas in two years.

Gustavsson wanted Gorry for the January-February Asian Cup in India but she turned down selection to care for her daughter Harper.

“I would have loved to have her there,” Gustavsson said.

“She would actually have been a perfect super-sub in that second-half against Korea with her skill-set.

“She can turn out of pressure like no-one else, and (it’s) her vision and touch on the ball as well.

“The big step for her now is to bring her game back up to international speed.”

Gorry said her Matildas selection felt “amazing”.

“This is probably the healthiest, happiest (and) best I’ve been playing in a very long time,” said Gorry, who gave birth to Harper less than nine months ago.

“I think you can see it in my face, you can see it in the way I’m playing.

“I’m excited to show the world and just be back in the Matildas environment.”

Returning Matilda Katrina Gorry is all smiles with her baby daughter Harper. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images for Football Australia

Apart from Gorry, the squad for the matches in Townsville (April 8) and Canberra (April 12) contains 22 of the 23 players who went to the Asian Cup, with the injured Holly McNamara not selected.

The Matildas’ Asian Cup failure had some calling for Gustavsson’s head, but the Swede remained confident in the “process”.

“But I’m humble enough to say there’s a lot of things to learn. I don’t want to sit her and protect myself and say it’s better than it was. That’s not me,” he said.

“I’m always trying to be as honest as I can.

“As long as I have the trust from people to lead this team, our attacking mindset is not going to change.

“Our first principal is to attack, our second one is to attack and our third one is to attack.”

Gustavsson said the April series was an important part of the build-up for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup being hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

“It’s been a long two months since the group was in assembly, but we have used that time effectively to undertake an in-depth technical review similar to the one conducted following the Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” he said.

“With two major tournaments in the last 12 months, this April window gives us an opportunity to start the process of implementing the lessons learned over that time frame.

“Over the past year we have had a close look at over 75 players in high performance environments, but as we focus in on the FIFA Women’s World Cup preparations, it is essential for us to start zeroing in on our best combinations and providing them time together.”

Matildas squad: Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham), Ellie Carpenter (Olympique Lyon), Steph Catley (Arsenal), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Melbourne Victory), Caitlin Foord (Arsenal), Mary Fowler (Montpellier), Emily Gielnik (Aston Villa), Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar / Vittsjö GIK), Charlotte Grant (FC Rosengård), Alanna Kennedy (Manchester City), Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Aivi Luik (Pomigliano), Teagan Micah (FC Rosengård), Courtney Nevin (Melbourne Victory), Clare Polkinghorne (Vittsjö GIK), Hayley Raso (Manchester City). Remy Siemsen (Sydney FC), Kyah Simon (Tottenham), Emily van Egmond (San Diego Wave), Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC), Clare Wheeler (Fortuna Hjørring), Lydia Williams (Arsenal), Tameka Yallop (West Ham).