The return of Matildas regular Katrina Gorry to Brisbane has come at just the right time after two heavy away defeats in the A-League Women competition.
The 30-year-old Roar legend took a well-earned break from the game at the start of the season but is available for the home clash with Western Sydney at Redcliffe on Saturday.
The Roar were beaten 4-0 away last week by Sydney after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Melbourne City, also away.
Gorry has won two titles with the Roar and her return has given the team and coach Garrath McPherson a boost.
“Since she started with us last year after having her daughter Harper she hasn’t had a break from football,” McPherson told AAP.
“She has gone from our environment into the national team environment and over to Sweden (with Vittsjo GIK) so her body needed a rest.”
Gorry will bring creativity and attacking intent to the midfield for the Roar who have missed her experience and guile.
McPherson said the midfielders had done a good job helping the side construct play and getting on the ball.
“They’ve had a lot of really good passes but Katrina is a mid-fielder that can dribble with the ball, combine with strikers and she has got a really good range, a killer pass and she can shoot,” he said.
The strikers enjoy playing with Gorry because they know they have a better chance of having a goal set up for them.
Roar and Matildas forward Larissa Crummer has a strong rapport with Gorry, and McPherson said that would be a partnership the side would look to exploit.
“They understand each other intuitively about who is going to do what, and when so it will be good to see them reconnect,” he said.
Forward/midfielder Mariel Hecher is another big in for the Roar after she missed the last two games with a calf injury.
“Mariel is one of our potent attacking weapons,” McPherson said.
“She will be available this week after we had her on a three-or-four week rehab plan.
“Her absence has given a chance to young kids to debut with Zara Kruger making her debut against Melbourne City at the age of 16.”
The Roar are in eight position on four competition points on the A-League Women ladder while Western Sydney are in 10th position and are yet to register a point.
