A top goal scorer and senior defender return to the Football Ferns squad for two games against Australia next month.
Wellington Phoenix's Grace Jale will return to the Football Ferns. Photo: AAP IMAGE
Football Ferns head coach Jitka Klimková has confirmed her 23-player squad for the series against fellow 2023 Women's World Cup co-hosts Australia on 8 April in Townsville and 12 April in Canberra and is calling for her team to be mentally tougher.
Klimková is pleased to have the opportunity to quickly get the side back together after the SheBelieves Cup where the New Zealand side struggled.
"We took some big steps forward during the Canada and Korea Republic tours, and then as we saw in the SheBelieves Cup, sometimes you have to take a step back to take another couple of steps forward," Klimková said.
The tour of Australia would be focused on building team culture, Klimková said.
"We want to be mentally tougher when we encounter adversity.
"Every team faces challenges, I think we can respond quicker and more positively when one of us makes a mistake. We know when we give up a goal it is often more than one player's mistake, so we collectively need to respond better and more quickly.
"If we can improve in this area it will be very impactful throughout the 90 minutes."
Klimková wanted to see improved decision making, better connections and variations in how the Football Ferns play in front of goal.
Four-cap Fern Grace Jale is back for the first time since 2018 following her first professional season with Wellington Phoenix.
Jale scored six goals to finish the side's top goalscorer in its inaugural A-League Women season.
Senior defender Anna Green returns for the first time since the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, while Sydney FC defender Ally Green will also join the squad for the first time as a training player.
CJ Bott is managing a hip injury and was unavailable for selection while Abby Erceg and Anna Leat are staying with their clubs.
The Ford Football Ferns squad for Australia series: Lily Alfeld, Victoria Esson, Erin Nayler, Elizabeth Anton, Katie Bowen, Claudia Bunge, Anna Green, Meikayla Moore, Ali Riley, Rebekah Stott, Ashleigh Ward, Olivia Chance, Daisy Cleverley, Betsy Hassett, Grace Jale, Ria Percival, Malia Steinmetz, Ava Collins, Jacqui Hand, Gabi Rennie, Emma Rolston, Paige Satchell, Hannah Wilkinson.