The Matildas have been struck by a second World Cup blow with star forward Mary Fowler ruled out of Thursday’s game against Nigeria with concussion.
On Wednesday, the Matildas revealed Fowler and defender Aivi Luik would be unavailable for the team’s second group stage game after they both sustained mild concussions in separate incidents in training on Tuesday.
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The Matildas said in a statement: “Fowler and Luik have both fully recovered and commenced Football Australia’s Graduated Return to Play protocol.”
It’s an unmitigated disaster for the Matildas, who were rocked by a calf injury to Sam Kerr on the eve of the tournament that ruled her out of the games against Ireland and Nigeria.
And with another of the squad’s forwards in Kyah Simon having carried injury into the tournament, Fowler’s misfortune has come at the wrong time for the Australians.
The Matildas have traditionally played a 4-4-2 formation under coach Tony Gustavsson, but that may need to be reshuffled to put Caitlin Foord as the lone striker upfront.
Fowler, 20, has long been seen as the heir apparent to Kerr and scored in Australia’s 1-0 win over France in their World Cup warm up game.
The concussion means Fowler could also miss Australia’s final group game on Monday against Olympic champions Canada — a crucial clash which could decide who tops Group B and cops an easier round of 16 opponent.
The FFA’s guidelines state the majority (80-90 per cent) of adult concussions resolve in a short (7-10 day) period, although the recovery frame may be longer in children and adolescents.
Australia defeated Ireland 1-0 in their first group stage game thanks to a second half penalty from stand-in captain Steph Catley.
The Aussies will need Foord and others to fire in front of goal in the absence of Kerr and Fowler.
Foord is set to lead the Matildas’ attack against the Nigerians, with the versatile Tameka Yallop an option to replace Fowler up front.
Fowler’s concussion could also force Kerr to return to action sooner than hoped if the Matildas are desperate for a goal against Canada.
The Matildas trained on Wednesday morning, with Kerr, Fowler and Simon all restricted to walking laps of the field.
They will guarantee themselves a spot in the tournament’s knockout stages with a win over the Nigerians.