Matildas Star Mary Fowler Praises Australian Heat for Thawing 'Frozen' Knees After ACL Injury
Matildas forward Mary Fowler has revealed that the Australian heat played a crucial role in defrosting her 'frozen' knees, following a lengthy recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The 23-year-old footballer, who is dating NRL superstar Nathan Cleary, believes her time away from the game after the injury in April last year provided a much-needed mental and physical break.
Key Role in Asian Cup Campaign
Fowler is set to be a pivotal figure for Australia as they aim to win the Women's Asian Cup for the first time since 2010. The Matildas' tournament begins with a match against the Philippines in Perth on March 1. There were initial concerns that Fowler might miss the home-soil event after she tore her ACL in her right knee while playing for Manchester City in April 2023.
After spending over nine months on the sidelines, Fowler made her comeback as a 75th-minute substitute in a 5-1 FA Cup victory over Chelsea in early February. She then faced another three-week hiatus before earning a starting position in the FA Cup against Sheffield United on February 22.
Recovery and Confidence Boost
Despite lacking match fitness, Fowler expressed confidence in her ability to impact the Asian Cup. She stated, 'After getting my first minutes against Chelsea, I then had a few little bumps along the road, so I missed a couple of games. But then last weekend I had my first start. So that was really good for the confidence and really good to just see how the body feels during a game, but also pulling up well afterwards.'
Fowler highlighted the benefits of the Australian climate, saying, 'I feel good being here in Perth. And I think the heat's really going to help because half the issue is my knees being frozen due to the cold in England. So just excited to be out there.'
Career Highlights and Mental Refresh
With 16 goals from 63 appearances for the Matildas, Fowler announced herself as a future star with impressive performances at the 2023 Women's World Cup when she was just 20. However, the pressures of professional football and daily routines began to take a toll. Reflecting on her injury, Fowler saw a silver lining, noting that the break allowed her to regain perspective.
She explained, 'Because I've been playing football for so many years, it becomes such a routine. I think it's easy to lose the joy in it when you're just doing the same thing over and over again. So I think for me, whenever I've had time away from the sport, it's always given me a fresh perspective on how lucky I am to be playing it and doing it as a job. So having this time out has allowed me to just mentally also have a bit of a break.'
Broadcast Details for Fans
For viewers in Australia, Network 10 will broadcast every Matildas game during the Asian Cup live. Additionally, the streaming service Paramount+ will provide coverage of all tournament matches, ensuring fans can follow the action closely.
