'I can do this': Shock Matildas call for 35-year-old to replace Kerr

The 35-year-old veteran forward earned a call-up to the 23-woman Matildas squad for the third and final round of Olympic qualifying matches in Uzbekistan and Melbourne later this month.

Heyman said she's more mature and fitter than she was in her last game for the Matildas six years ago, and was excited by the opportunity to return to the national side.

"Hopefully I'll get the shot to put on the jersey and show Australia again that I can do this," she said in Melbourne at the squad announcement on Wednesday.

"It's really sad news with Sam [Kerr]. That's how my [Matildas] career started in 2010, Sam did her knee and I got her spot then," Heyman added.

"So it's a surreal, weird feeling to think this has happened again many years later.

"I know with the team around me I can score goals."

The 12th-ranked Matildas need to defeat 47th-ranked Uzbekistan in the two-leg, home-and-away tie to become one of the Asia region's two representatives in the 12-team field for the Paris Olympics.

"With Sam [Kerr] unavailable, Kyah [Simon] is coming back from injury, and Holly McNamara injured, we're looking at who is the next best No.9, and the way Michelle has played, she deserves to be selected," Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.

"It's not about age in the Matildas, it's about the quality you have as a footballer, whether you're 17 or 35, it doesn't matter.

"The way she plays, she's in tremendous form. She's scoring for fun, and we're going to play against a very well organised Uzbekistan, and it's going to be difficult to get in behind. So we need a pure nine in the box that only needs half a chance to score and that's Michelle.

"I'm really happy for her because she has pushed herself back into this team by her performances."

Back in 2019, then 30-year-old Heyman retired from international football citing the physical toll on her body following repeated ankle and knee injuries.

But before the Women's World Cup last year, Heyman threw her hat back into the ring for Matildas selection, claiming to be fitter than she's ever been and ready for a return to the international stage. Gustavsson revealed he met with Heyman for the first time in 2022 when the national team came to play New Zealand in Canberra.

Though she missed out on making the Matildas' World Cup squad, Gustavsson recognised her extraordinary form in the A-League Women for Canberra - including scoring her 100th A-League career goal - and rewarded her with a spot in his team.

"I understand this might be a headline, Michelle is back and she's 35 ... I think we should be excited about players that extend their career," he said.

"To play some of the best football she's ever played at that age is impressive."

When she retired from the Matildas five years ago Heyman said she'd achieved everything she wanted at international level, except one thing - winning gold at the Olympics.

Heyman played four matches for Australia in 2016 at the Rio Games, and now in 2024 with her selection in the latest Matildas squad, she is one step closer to playing in another Olympics with a shot at winning the first football gold medal for Australia.

"The year that I retired I really needed a break, and back then you couldn't use the words 'mental health'. You had to just retire and step away," Heyman said.

"In 2020 I came back to the A-League and played an incredible season, I won a Julie Dolan award, I've scored multiple goals, loved every minute of it and it sparked that fire in my belly. Since then I've been fighting to get back into this [Matildas] squad.

"To get given the opportunity, it means the world to me. I just want to make the most of it, and work as hard as possible and make it my own again.

"I needed that break. I needed that time to be a human and not be a robot. Camp back then in the national team, it was a lot on the body, and doing that for 10 years straight, I needed a rest.

"Now I feel fitter, I'm stronger, and I'm happier and healthier than I was back then."

Gustavsson said it was too far ahead to say what players will be at the Olympics and that competition for spots will continue right up until that squad is named closer to July, though he was excited by Heyman's passion to perform at the Games.

"That passion and the feeling of unfinished business to medal in the tournament is shared by a lot of players and is a drive and motivator for us in this qualifying window," Gustavsson said.

"I like the fact [Heyman] is on the same page as the rest of the players with the motivation of coming back and wanting to win games, but we need to qualify first."

Heyman already has 61 caps for the Matildas, scoring 20 goals between 2010-18, and she will look to build on that record with forward Kerr injured and ruled out after ACL surgery last month.

Goalkeeper Lydia Williams (ankle) with defender Charlie Rule (hip) are also unavailable for the Matildas due to injury.

Kerr's absence means defender Steph Catley will wear the captain's armband for upcoming matches, with Sydney FC goalkeeper Jada Whyman, midfielder Chloe Logarzo from Western United and defender Kaitlyn Torpey from San Diego Wave FC called up with Heyman.

Heyman has been in top form, and is currently the A-League Women's golden boot leader with 10 goals in 14 matches.

The Matildas finished top of the group in the second round of Olympic qualifiers in Perth, however they lost their final two matches of the 2023 against Canada 1-0 and 5-0 and will be looking to bounce back with a strong performance against Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan have only met the Matildas once before, back in 2007, and they were soundly beaten by the Australians, 10-0.

Despite that record Gustavsson is not underestimating the "challenge" ahead to qualify and refused to speculate about his coaching future beyond the Olympics amid rumours of interviewing for other roles following the World Cup.

"It's not about what's important for TG, it's what's important for the Matildas," he said.

"Of course it's a failure if we don't qualify for the Olympics, it's my job to help this team to qualify... I just focus on what's in front of me."

The Matildas' best finish at the Olympics is fourth place at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

AFC Women's Olympic Qualifiers - Round 3

Uzbekistan v Australia - Saturday, February 24, 8pm AEDT at Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent

Australia v Uzbekistan - Wednesday, February 28, 8pm AEDT at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne

Matildas squad: Mackenzie ARNOLD, Ellie CARPENTER, Steph CATLEY (C), Kyra COONEY-CROSS, Caitlin FOORD, Mary FOWLER, Katrina GORRY, Charlotte GRANT, Michelle HEYMAN, Clare HUNT, Alanna KENNEDY, Chloe LOGARZO, Aivi LUIK, Teagan MICAH, Clare POLKINGHORNE, Hayley RASO, Amy SAYER, Kaitlyn TORPEY, Emily VAN EGMOND, Cortnee VINE, Clare WHEELER, Jada WHYMAN, Tameka YALLOP.