Matildas coach optimistic Mary Fowler will play in Women's Asian Cup, with draw revealed
Fowler ruptured her ACL in April, an injury that can take up to 12 months to recover from.
Speaking at the Asian Cup draw in Sydney, Montemurro said Fowler is on track in her recovery, crediting her club Manchester City for accelerating her comeback.
"She's looking good … she's done really well, she's in a good space," Montemurro said.
The star power of Fowler would be a huge boost for the tournament, which will be held across Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast.
Sam Kerr is also likely to be there, she's endured a long recovery from her own ACL injury, sustained 18 months ago.
"All the signs are really, really positive. She's joined in pre-season training with Chelsea," Montemurro said.
"She's probably into a pretty normal routine now, back to club training, and we hope that all goes well going forward, and getting some game time at Chelsea."
Australia will open the tournament against the Philippines at Perth Stadium on March 1, then face Iran on the Gold Coast, and South Korea at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
South Korea is the team that poses the biggest challenge in the group — the Taegeuk Ladies handed Australia a crushing 1-0 defeat in the quarterfinals of the 2022 tournament, although the Matildas beat them in two friendlies in May.
"They're a talented team, a team that can find all different ways of breaking down teams and tactically are very, very smart," Montemurro said.
"I know the girls are really clear on making sure that they don't make the same mistakes as they did (in 2022)."
The Philippines have had a heavy Australian influence — former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic led the side to the semifinals in 2022, plus a debut Women's World Cup appearance in 2023.
Another Australian, Mark Torcaso, is now in charge and with the top six finishers automatically qualifying for the 2027 World Cup, the goals are clear.
"It's really good for our country to be challenged by the best. If we want to go to the World Cup, we have to play against the best teams and obviously Australia is one of them," Torcaso said.
"The girls, and the country as as a whole, are just extremely passionate people. They play with so much passion, and they love the country, and they love everyone that supports it."
In the other groups, China has been drawn alongside North Korea, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan, and Japan will take on Vietnam, India, Chinese Taipei.
The top two in each group will automatically progress to the knockout stage, along with the two best third-placed sides.
The Matildas' 2010 Women's Asian Cup win was a breakthrough for Australian football — it was the country's first major international trophy.
The Socceroos matched that in 2015, winning the cup at home, and heading into her sixth continental tournament, Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop wants to build on that.
"To be able to lift the trophy in my first Asian Cup, I've been chasing that ever since," she said.
"If we were able to do that on home soil, that's what dreams are made of. So all we can do is try our best and hopefully play some good football for Australia."
The Matildas won't necessarily be the favourites — that'll likely go to the region's highest ranked teams, Japan (7) and North Korea (9), as well as nine-time champion China.
But the expectation from an adoring public looms.
"We have to deal with the the privilege of this pressure and and look at it from a positive perspective," Montemurro said.
"We're at the top of our game, we're at the the highest level in football, we're playing against some of the best teams, and a one-off occasion in Australia, another big tournament.
"So the pressure is a positive privilege for us, and we wanna make sure that we we put on a good performance, but also (leave a) legacy."
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