Matildas' Alanna Kennedy keen on midfield role after 1-1 draw with Slovenia
Matildas veteran Alanna Kennedy says she would welcome further opportunities to play in the midfield role she filled during Australia's 1-1 draw with Slovenia on Sunday night.
Coach Joe Montemurro started Kennedy alongside Kyra Cooney-Cross in the middle of the park in his second match in charge in Perth, screening centre-backs Clare Hunt and Winonah Heatley.
Montemurro made six changes to the side that secured a 3-0 win over the Slovenians on Thursday.
Though unable to match the earlier result, the Matildas put in an improved performance with the ball.
Kennedy was substituted before Mirjam Kastelec's late strike cancelled out Michelle Heyman's 50th-minute opener.
"I love playing in the midfield, I was really excited to have the opportunity to play there," Kennedy told Paramount Plus.
"Hopefully, the first of many and I think it was a good start."
Kennedy was a midfielder as a junior and has been deployed there at a club level since making a move from Manchester City to NWSL side Angel City in January.
"I'm happy to play for Australia in any position, even if it means in goal," Kennedy said.
"But I'm not going to complain about playing in the midfield.
"I love being a defender, but I think for me, like my heart's a bit higher up the pitch and I'm happy to have the opportunity to play there."
Being able to use Kennedy in the midfield would give Montemurro another option heading into next year's Asian Cup, which will be staged in Australia.
"When you've got a player like Alanna who protects the back two, the fullbacks can come inside and have more freedom," Montemurro said.
"The wingers have more freedom to come inside into midfield and create overloads.
"When you've got that stability of one player, you can create the overloads."
Kennedy is one of eight players set to depart the Matildas set-up following the fixtures against Slovenia.
Another eight are jetting to Western Australia for friendlies against Panama on July 5 and 8.
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