Michelle Heyman earns surprise Matildas call-up in Sam Kerr’s absence for Olympic qualifiers

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has recalled veteran forward Michelle Heyman to the Australian squad for the first time in six years as he seeks to fill the Sam Kerr-shaped void in his squad.

Heyman, 35, who has been consistently overlooked by Gustavsson during his tenure, previously retired from international football.

But she and Chloe Logarzo, who missed last year’s Women’s World Cup with injury, were the two big inclusions when Australia’s 23-player squad was announced on Wednesday.

The Matildas play Uzbekistan in a qualifier later this month, with a win across the two legs guaranteeing their passage to the Paris Olympics.

The two games give Heyman a golden opportunity to book an unlikely ticket to Paris with captain Kerr set to miss the tournament after injuring the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee.

The 61-cap international has nine goals in 14 A-League Women games for Canberra United this season, and will be 36 by the time the Olympics start in July.

“With Sam unavailable, Kyah [Simon] coming back from injury … we were looking at who’s the best next No 9,” Gustavsson said. “The way Michelle has played, she deserves to be selected – it’s purely performance.

“I’ve said a lot of times, it’s not about your age, it’s about the quality you have as a footballer – whether you’re 17 or 35. Heyman has played herself into this team the way she is playing, she’s in tremendous form and she’s scoring for fun.

“Michelle is back again and she’s 35 … we should be excited about players extending their career.”

As well as Heyman, Logarzo’s recall is significant after battling injury over the past 18 months and missing out on the World Cup.

The midfielder had to watch last year’s tournament from the TV studio but her strong form for Western United has led to her earning a lifeline back into the squad.

“She’s worked a long time to get back to where she needed to be,” Gustavsson said.

“Her professionalism and her character has gotten her back to where she is now, so I’m really happy to bring Chloe back in. She also knows the identity of the team and she knows the playing style so she’s going to integrate quickly.”

Western United’s Chloe Logarzo has been recalled after missing the World Cup due to injury. Photograph: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images

Uncapped defender Kaitlyn Torpey wins her first call-up after sealing a move to San Diego Wave earlier this week but there is no place for Melbourne Victory’s Alex Chidiac.

“[Chidiac] didn’t really get the minutes when she was abroad and it’s for her to find the joy and the love for the game,” Gustavsson said. “The way Chids can play, we’re still going to keep an eye on her.”

Steph Catley will captain the side in Kerr’s absence, while Jada Whyman joins the goalkeeping ranks with Lydia Williams injured.

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The Matildas are aiming to qualify for a third straight Olympic Games after missing out on a bronze medal with a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat to the USA in the third-place playoff in Tokyo.

Gustavsson led the side to another fourth-place finish at the Women’s World Cup but they will be out to go one better and clinch the nation’s first Olympic medal in football.

This will be the Matildas second meeting with Uzbekistan after a comprehensive 10-0 victory in 2007 during the China 2008 Olympics qualifiers preliminary round.

The final stage of qualification for the Paris Olympics will be decided over two legs with the first to be played in front of as many as 34,00 fans at Bunyodkor Stadium in Uzbekistan on 24 February.

Australia and Uzbekistan will meet again in Melbourne four days later in a winner-takes-all clash to become one of two Asia representatives in the 12-team field at the 2024 Olympic Games.

The second leg to be played at Marvel Stadium on 28 February is sold out and will be the Matildas’ 12th consecutive match on home soil to be played at a packed venue.

Matildas squad: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah, Jada Whyman; Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Charli Grant, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Aivi Luik, Clare Polkinghorne, Kaitlyn Torpey; Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Chloe Logarzo, Amy Sayer, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop; Caitlin Foord, Michelle Heyman, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine.

Fixtures: