Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has moved to allay fears over Tameka Yallop’s health for the Women’s World Cup after the veteran injured her knee in Australia’s 1-0 win over France.
Yallop, who has had a wretched run with accidents over the previous yr, got here on the 62nd minute on Friday for her first recreation since injuring her ankle in April.
Six days out from Australia dealing with Ireland, the 32-year-old hyper-extended her left knee within the 74th minute and was substituted within the 83rd.
“I haven’t had time to talk to her except when she stepped off,” Gustavsson instructed reporters.
“We had a break so when she was on the park she just wanted to push through and I said, ‘bigger picture Meeks, bigger picture’ and she said, ‘okay, take me off then’.
“She needed to remain, so it was me reminding her what that is about. It’s the larger image.
“So if this was a World Cup game, I think she would have kept playing. Hopefully by taking her off we saved some recovery time in that and rehab time.
“I hope it is only a knock and nothing that’s torn or tweaked, however I can not touch upon that but.”
Captain Sam Kerr appeared to have an icepack on her hamstring after she was taken off in the 62nd minute, but gestured to fans to relax when the camera panned to her.
“She is a type of that we actually needed to handle minutes on as nicely,” Gustavsson mentioned.
“We have skilled onerous to be ready bodily as a result of the gamers that got here from England, for instance, have not performed a recreation for a very long time, so we skilled them onerous.
“In a closed doors game a week ago, we played 90 minutes for the ones that needed 90 minutes and then we knew they would play maybe 60 today to make sure they had the preservation plan to fly against Ireland – it’s all about Ireland.
“We knew that was dangerous with tonight’s recreation to do this however we belief the depth within the roster to do it.
“Sam was a pre-planned sub. We talked to her at halftime if she was ready to pull out, but she said another 10 to 15 would be good for her physically for the Ireland game.”
When requested if Kerr was already managing a hamstring challenge, Gustavsson mentioned “I’ll leave that to the medical team.”
Defender Alanna Kennedy, in her first worldwide since September, got here off within the 79th minute.
“We hope she’s okay,” Gustavsson mentioned.
“She had a little bit of a niggle but hope it’s just a niggle.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
