Matildas Head Coach Alen Stajcic has named a 21 player squad for next week’s Tournament of Nations in the United States.

Following a camp at the Australian Institute of Sport last week, the camp is a mix of Australian and internationally based players and includes a majority of the players from March’s Algarve Cup.

Headlining the squad is forward Sam Kerr who has been in red hot form in the American National Women’s Soccer League.   Kerr and NWSL players Steph Catley, Alanna Kennedy and Hayley Raso will all meet up with the squad following their final match before the international break.

The European contingent will sees Emily Gielnik, Chloe Logarzo and Tameka Butt from the Norwegian League. Butt returns to the national team after an Algarve Cup absence on the back of equally red hot goalscoring form with the attacking midfielder currently sitting third in the Toppserien Golden Boot race. Meanwhile Western Sydney Wanderers captain Caitlin Cooper and Laura Alleway have returned to the team also after Algarve Cup omission.

As well as the established players, a new face is on the cards to make her senior Matildas debut with Sydney FC and Young Matildas forward Princess Ibini selected for her first senior tour.

Ibini was part of a host of “generation next” players selected for the Australian based camp and the Young Matilda impressed enough to be selected for tour against some of the world’s best.

If she debuts, Ibini would become the first player of African descent to debut for the Matildas and would join a host of sister / brother combinations to play for Australia.

Princess Ibini in action for the Young Matildas (Photo: Ben Southall)

Striker Michelle Heyman has been left out as time ran out for her recovery from a serious ankle injury which has kept the W-League leading goalscorer out for the past six months. While Kyah Simon is still recovering from double shoulder surgery.

Currently 7th in the FIFA women’s world rankings, the Matildas will take on the United States (ranked 1st), Japan (ranked 6th) and Brazil (ranked 8th) in the Tournament of Nations.

The squad will assemble depart for the United States on 21 July 2017.

The Women’s Game will have full coverage of the Matildas participation in the Tournament of Nations.

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Lydia Williams (Melbourne City / Houston Dash), Mackenzie Arnold (Brisbane Roar)

DEFENDERS:, Steph Catley (Melbourne City / Orlando Pride), Ellie Carpenter (WS Wanderers), Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane Roar), Alanna Kennedy (Sydney FC), Caitlin Cooper (WS Wanderers), Gema Simon (Newcastle United / Avaldsnes IL), Laura Alleway

MIDFIELDERS: Alex Chidiac (Adelaide United), Katrina Gorry (Brisbane Roar/ Vegalta Sendai), Elise Kellond-Knight (Turbine Potsdam), Emily van Egmond (Wolfsburg), Chloe Logarzo (Newcastle Jets / Avaldsnes IL), Tameka Butt (Klepp)

FORWARDS: Lisa De Vanna, Caitlin Foord (Sydney FC / Vegalta Sendai), Emily Gielnik (Brisbane Roar / Avaldsnes IL), Sam Kerr (Perth Glory / Sky Blue FC), Hayley Raso (Canberra United / Portland Thorns), Princess Ibini (Sydney FC)

MATCHES

USA v Australia

Century Link Field, Seattle

Kick-Off 7:00pm local time (12:00pm AEST Friday 28 July)

Japan v Australia

Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego

Kick-Off 2:15pm local time (7:15am AEST Monday 31 July)

Australia v Brazil

StubHub Center, Carson

Kick-Off 4:15pm local time (9:15am AEST Friday 4 August)