Matilda coach Tony Gustavsson faces tough call as urges clubs to play Mary Fowler and Hayley Raso more

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has some tough decisions to make as he quickly turns his focus from the Matilda’s epic 10-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan to qualify for the Olympics to whom he needs to cut from the squad.

Deciding who misses out on a ticket to Paris as the squad is cut from 22 to 18 comes as Gustavsson made the case for his young star to get more game time at their big name European clubs.

Mary Fowler finished Australia’s matches against Uzbekistan with two goals, an assist, her 50th Matildas cap and a happy snap with Olympics legend Cathy Freeman but is struggling to get on the pitch for Manchester City. Hayley Raso who also scored on Wednesday and is in the same boat at Real Madrid.

Fowler, 21, hasn’t started a league game at City since October, with a total of just 75 minutes across the club’s past five Women’s Super League fixtures.

Fellow young gun Kyra Cooney-Cross has also had to deal with a lack of league game time at Arsenal, but played both full Matildas games.

“As a national team coach, you obviously are not in control of that whether it’s a loan or getting playing time - that’s a player selection and the clubs do it,” Gustavsson said.

“But what I am very, very impressed about is that there’s a lot of players that have lacked minutes coming into this environment but they still perform and that’s a credit to the player and also a credit to our environment.

“Because when you come into this environment with maybe a lack of minutes and form and lack of confidence, you’re valued, you trust the team and trust the tactics, and you’re able to perform with limited minutes.

“Would I love them to get more minutes? Of course, because that’s how players grow and get better.”

While plenty of the squad picks itself, the final positions will give Gustavsson some headaches.

One of those fighting for a sport is Michelle Heyman who has been a revelation after the W-League star, who thought her international career was over, got the call to fill the boots of none other than an injured Sam Kerr.

She scored four goals on Wednesday night to finish the two-match series with five.

“I do believe in my ability and know how hard I’ve been pushing myself to get here and I won’t be stopping,” she said.

“I’m going to continue to push even harder for Canberra United and just keep working on my fitness, speed and do everything I can do to be one of those 16 outfield players who go to Paris.”

Heyman has silenced plenty of doubters with her performances and insisted she wasn’t done yet.

“It’s been a very emotional roller coaster. I’ve been pushing so hard to try and get back into this squad,” she said.

“And as soon as I got the email to say that ‘you’re back in’, I’m not letting it go.

“A lot of people told me that I couldn’t do it and ‘you’re too old.’

The players are aware of the pressure to continue to perform with Australia’s next game against Mexico in April.

“So it’s always been cut-throat. That’s the nature of the Matildas set-up, everyone’s competing for a spot and everyone wants game time,” Clare Hunt said

“That’s the nature of the sport, and there is a competitiveness within the squad. But it’s also healthy competition too. So it’s great.”

Rookie Kaitlyn Torpey pressed her selection case, impressing in her first call-up.

“(Torpey) is selected based on performance. She’s not in here to be developed, she’s in here because she’s ready to train in our environment,” Gustavsson said.

“In the first three days, we were very positively surprised at how quickly she adjusted to the tempo. The last time I saw a player do that that quickly was when Clare Hunt came in a year ago.”

Striker/midfielder Amy Sayer scored her first goal in Wednesday night’s game, and has impressed in limited opportunities.

Chloe Logarzo and Clare Wheeler didn’t play a minute of either leg against the Uzbeks, while Cortnee Vine sat out the series for personal reasons.

The Matildas boss will remain in Australia to watch some A-League Women games before returning to Europe.

“We do have some ideas of what we want to do but in terms of games it’s almost limited - you have the national team days that you have and you’re trying to make the most out of it,” Gustavsson said.

“We always look at playing different types of opposition. We want to play away and at home.

“I’m going to use those games to check back in on the process. Where are we? What do we need to do from a core group standpoint?

“Meaning there’s limited minutes to prepare the core group of players that I know is going to go to the Olympics - and they need the games - but maybe also I need to look at a few players to make decisions.

“So finding that sweet spot and that balance is going to be key.”