Heyman to miss Matildas duty

Feb 17, 2017 - 4:21 AM The Matildas will be without Michelle Heyman but head to Portugal full of confidence of a strong showing in next month's Algarve Cup.

Coach Alen Stajcic has named a 21-woman squad to travel to Portugal for the invitational tournament, where Australia returns to action for the first time since the Rio Olympics last August.

Heyman's withdrawal is the biggest omission, given a trio of senior Olympians - Laura Alleway, Tameka Butt and Larissa Crummer - had already been dumped from the expanded squad by Stajcic.

"She hasn't recovered quickly enough," Stajcic said of Heyman, "but to have a number of players on the verge of coming back to full fitness makes it even more exciting about how this team is going to be."

The feel-good selection of the group is Amy Harrison, who missed the Olympics after a major knee injury suffered in December 2015.

The former Young Matildas captain will resume her international career after proving her fitness through the recently concluded W-League season with Sydney FC.

The youngest squad member is 16-year-old Ellie Carpenter, while 18-year-old Alex Chidiac is the most inexperienced, with just one cap to her name.

Cut from the group that trained at the AIS in Canberra this week as part of an extended squad are Caitlin Cooper, Casey Dumont, Grace Maher, Jada Mathyssen-Whyman, Heyman and wonder-teen Jacynta Galabadaarachchi.

Germany-based pair Elise Kellond-Knight and Emily van Egmond will miss next week's camp but link up with the squad in Portugal.

At the Cup, Australia face Sweden (world No.8), Netherlands (12) and China (13).

Australia: Teigen Allen, Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Emma Checker, Lisa De Vanna, Caitlin Foord, Emily Gielnik, Katrina Gorry, Amy Harrison, Elise Kellond-Knight, Alanna Kennedy, Sam Kerr, Chloe Logarzo, Clare Polkinghorne, Hayley Raso, Gema Simon, Kyah Simon, Emily van Egmond, Lydia Williams.

MATILDAS' MATCHES AT ALGARVE CUP

March 1 - Australia v Sweden - Albufeira - 6.30pm local (0530am AEDT, March 2)

March 3 - Australia v Netherlands - Vila Real Sto Antonio - 3pm local (0200 AEDT, March 4)

March 6 - Australia v China - Albufeira - 3pm local (0200 AEDT, March 7)

Source: AAP