It’s been a long time coming but finally, Melbourne City attacker Holly McNamara made her highly anticipated return to action.
McNamara started in City’s 4-0 win over Newcastle Jets, playing 60 minutes and providing a ‘hockey assist’ to Maria Jose Rojas for their opener – her first bit of action in 377 days.
The Matildas attacker had been forced to bide her time this season as she made her way back from a season-ending knee injury that she suffered back in February last year – during City’s 2-1 win over Sydney FC – the second of her young career.
But now, McNamara is back just in time for City’s push for silverware and there was no easing her into proceedings with coach Dario Vidosic putting her straight into the starting XI; even correcting Dub Zone commentator Teo Pellizzeri for the amount of minutes she played on Saturday afternoon – who thought she played a half.
“It was so good today, I had the most fun with all of the girls. It was a really good performance and we are happy,” McNamara told Dub Zone post-game.
“You definitely need to get back into it and I’ve had a lot of support. Everyone around me has been really good. All my friends, team-mates and especially support staff.”
I actually played 60 minutes but thanks for noticing that, Teo!
The support came from far and wide after the game, with Canberra United’s Nicki Flannery – who understands the trials and tribulations of suffering a serious knee injury – sending a shoutout to McNamara post-game.
“I also just wanted to say a quick congratulations to Holly McNamara for her return,” Flannery told Dub Zone shortly after McNamara’s interview.
Before her injury, McNamara was tearing it up for City, scoring four goals and tallying three assists in eight games last season – earning the attention of Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson who called her up for the Women’s Asian Cup last year.
With the Women’s World Cup only a little under four months away, the 20-year-old attacker is in a race against the clock to earn a reprieve and Pellizzeri believes she should be in consideration.
“What we saw today was exactly what you would hope for when a player comes back from a serious injury,” he said.
“We didn’t ask the question about: ‘are you aiming for the Matildas’. I think, have we seen enough already that we don’t need to ask?
“Honestly, I said before the Cup of Nations that if you were going to call in one injured player it would be Holly McNamara to have her back among the group. I don’t know why we didn’t. I mean, the evidence is there that off a very short runaway, she’s absolutely in the conversation.”
But before then, the focus turns to helping City achieve Liberty A-League silverware, as they sit second on the table and firmly in the hunt for both the premiership and championship.
And McNamara, according to Pellizzeri, may be the key to unlocking their potential – even in wake of a host of injuries and players being unavailable due to international duty.
“I mean, she’s an eye catching player for a lot of reasons, but the ability to make her teammates better is probably the number one thing,” he said.
“She is the player that unlocks the potential of Hannah Wilkinson and did so last season. Now, you’ve got (Maria Jose) Rojas there as well. Bryleeh Henry the beneficiary ending a 10 game scoreless streak today.
I think this is the the catalyst that even if Melbourne City continue to lose midfielders and defenders, they can win the title if ‘Holly Mac’ is out there.
SATURDAY AGENDA
Newcastle Jets 0-4 Melbourne City
Venue: No.2 Sportsground
READ: City back to winning ways, turbo charged by return of star attacking duo
Canberra United 4-2 Adelaide United
Venue: McKellar Park
READ: Huge praise for free-scoring Heyman: ‘She’s still the best number nine in Australia’
Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Brisbane Roar
Venue: Sky Stadium
READ: Wellington boss left frustrated after Roar stalemate – ‘That really gets to me’
Follow along LIVE as KEEPUP brings you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from the Liberty A-League on Saturday, brought to you by neds.
