Steph Catley in doubt for the Matildas’ opening Olympic Games clash against Germany
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has been reluctant to reveal how Steph Catley suffered a lower leg injury that has her in danger of missing her side’s opening match at the Olympic Games.
Matildas captain Steph Catley is no certainty to be fit for Australia’s Olympic Games opener against Germany as she battles a mystery lower leg injury.
The Arsenal star’s injury was announced earlier this week when she was ruled out of the Matildas’ warm-up clash on Sunday morning (AEST) against Canada at Australia’s training camp in Marbella, Spain.
However, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has admitted he’s unsure if Catley – as well as Kaitlyn Torpey, who is also nursing a leg injury – will be fit for Australia’s first match of its Paris Games campaign against the Germans on July 26 (AEST) in Marseille.
“It’s a bit too early to say,” Gustavsson said.
“They’re noth on individual plans. They both came in with issues into camp. I trust the medical team as always to do individual plans for the players.
“What I can say is that everyone is doing everything we can, including Steph and Torpey to get available.”
Of the pair, Torpey seems ahead in her recovery, with Gustavsson saying the San Diego Wave defender may even get some game time against the Canadians.
However, there will be no risks taken with 30-year-old left-back Catley.
“It’s a lower leg injury that the (medical staff) need to make sure that they treat right and don’t want to risk anything,” Gustavsson said.
“Everything is about getting the players available for the (game against Germany).
“Some players could come in and need to work on fitness, some players needs to work on a niggle, some players have a minor injury – it’s all about getting making sure they’re ready on (July 26).”
Gustavsson would not divulge details of how Catley – who has been Australia’s captain since Sam Kerr ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee in January – suffered her injury.
“I want to respect Steph, her club and the environment outside here,” he said.
“Always when something happens outside of our environment, it’s not our responsibility to communicate it.
“The only thing I can say is that she’s here now, she has a lower leg injury and we’re doing everything to get her back.”
Gustavsson said there was never a chance that Catley would be ruled of the tournament, even before the recent rule change that has allowed nations to have “alternate players” who can be called into 18-player match-day squads for “injury, illness or mental health” reasons.
The Matildas four alternate players are defenders Charlotte Grant and Courtney Nevin, striker Sharn Freier and goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
“Let’s say in a few days from now that I get the decision that she (Catley) won’t be available for the (game against Germany), even if there wasn’t a rule change I would have kept her,” Gustavsson said.
“It’s Steph Catley, it’s our captain and if we have her available for the second game (against Zambia) or third game (against USA), I would have kept her – that’s how important she is to this team.”
Australia v Canada
Marbella, Spain
Sunday 5am (AEST)
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