Mary Fowler has ruled herself out of the Matildas’ upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Chinese Taipei to prioritise her mental and physical health.
The Manchester City star announced the news on Sunday via a statement, having helped her club side clinch a 2-1 win in the Women’s Champions League last week against Hammerby.
The 21-year-old has had a busy few months, continuing to play for both the Matildas and City, while also holidaying with boyfriend Nathan Cleary in the UK and Europe.
But Fowler stated that the increasingly demanding schedule has been a ‘challenge’ and admitted she wanted to take some time to focus on her mental and physical health in order to perform at her best for both City and Australia.
‘Playing for the national team is something that I never take for granted,’ Fowler said in a statement.
‘It’s an incredible honour to represent Australia every time I put the jersey on. I have, however, through past experiences, come to realise that my mind and my body are also things that I should also never take for granted.
‘Over the past few months, playing with an increasingly demanding schedule has been both exciting but at times also challenging.
‘I love being able to play at the top level of my sport, but recognising that sometimes my mind and body also need to rest has been an invaluable lesson for me.
‘Therefore, I’ve decided to take this time to prioritise recovery in order to refresh both mentally and physically, so that I can continue to put my best self forward for both club and country.
‘I really appreciate everyone’s support and understanding, and I hope to see you all soon.’
More to follow…
