Matildas could have both captain Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler for Asian Cup

The Matildas’ Asian Cup hopes have received a major boost with injured stars Mary Fowler and Sam Kerr both on track to return for the home tournament.

The Matildas could enter the Asian Cup with maximum goal-scoring power after coach Joe Montemurro confirmed that Mary Fowler was “on track” to make a faster-than-expected recovery from an ACL injury and captain Sam Kerr was set to make an imminent return to action with Chelsea.

Australian has drawn an opening-round clash with Philippines for the home tournament next March, and with Fowler starting to run during some training in Sydney this week under a program being run by her club, Manchester City, Montemurro is excited that she could be ready in time.

Fowler ruptured her ACL in April, an injury that can take up to 12 months to recover from.

“I spoke to her the other day and she’s on track,” Montemurro said at the Asian Cup draw in Sydney.

Matildas star Mary Fowler could be back for the Asian Cup. Picture: Tom Parrish

“She’s in Sydney at the moment doing some running.

“She’s looking good, and she should be hopefully back playing before November.”

Kerr has also moved in to full training with Chelsea more than 18 months after suffering her own ACL injury and looms as a key inclusion, with the tournament opener being played in her home town of Perth.

“All the signs are really, really positive. She’s joined in pre-season training with Chelsea,” Montemurro said.

“She’s probably into a pretty normal routine now, back to club training, and we hope that all goes well going forward and getting some game time at Chelsea.”

Back on the grass! 😍 pic.twitter.com/jdWZpB7fH6

— (C)helsea FC Women 🏆🏆🏆 (@ChelseaFCW) July 28, 2025

Montemurro knows the pressure will be on to replicate the stunning run of the Matildas to the semi-finals of the home World Cup in 2023 when the tournament kicks off.

“In any tournament, the expectations were what they were,” Montemurro said.

“I couldn’t predict that I wanted this team or that team. Now it’s a little bit clearer, the style of teams we’re playing, and it’s a little bit clearer on how we approach the build-up into it.”

Matildas’ Asian Cup matches::

Matildas v Philippines

Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026

Venue: Perth Stadium, Perth

Time: 5pm AWST/8pm AEDT

Matildas v Iran

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026

Venue: Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast

Time: 7pm AEST/8pm AEDT

Matildas v Korea Republic

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2026

Venue: Stadium Australia, Sydney

Time: 8pm AEDT

Originally published as Matildas could have both captain Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler for Asian Cup