Amy Chapman is in line for her first piece of competitive action in ten months after the midfielder was named in the squad for Brisbane Roar’s Round 5 Westfield W-League clash against Western Sydney Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow.
Head Coach Belinda Wilson hinted Chapman would probably make a cameo appearance in her return from injury, having not played since rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament against Sydney FC last December.
Wilson was confident the lively 26-year-old was physically and mentally ready for her much-awaited return.
“Her headspace is that she just wants to play,” the Brisbane coach said.
“She’s been ready to play for probably two weeks now but we’ve listened to the physios and medical staff and we’ve just watched her throughout the training.
“Obviously the surfaces we’ve been playing on haven’t been ideal so we want to make sure that she has the right environment to come back and obviously Suncorp is one of the best.”
Wilson said Chapman, also a Westfield Matilda, would offer her side a bit more freedom in the attacking third which could play a key factor given her side’s run of form which includes just one win in the opening four rounds of the competition.
“The runs that she makes – whether that be the unselfish runs or the selfish runs to get the ball – will allow other players around her to just be free to have the ability to have more time and space,” Wilson said.
“That’s what we’re looking for in that final third.”
Tomorrow’s match is the second double header Brisbane Roar has hosted at Suncorp Stadium and one of three in the 2014/15 season.
Wilson said that would also play a large role in motivating her side to push for a spot in top four of the Westfield W-League.
“Last year was my first experience at Suncorp, on the ground so to speak,” she said.
“It’s just an immense sense of pride when you walk into a stadium like that and knowing the background behind that stadium especially with Queensland teams.
“The girls just feel that straight away and they’re just absolutely over-the-moon about being able to play there not just once but three times this season.”
Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers
(Hyundai A-League double header)
Sunday 12 October 2014
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Local kick-off: 1pm
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Nadine ANGERER (gk), 2. Laura ALLEWAY, 3. Amy CHAPMAN, 4. Clare POLKINGHORNE (c), 5. Brooke SPENCE, 6. Hayley RASO, 7. Kim CARROLL, 8. Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 9. Larissa CRUMMER, 10. Katrina GORRY, 13. Tameka BUTT, 14. Natasha WHEELER, 15. Brooke GOODRICH, 17. Emily GIELNIK, 18. Sunny FRANCO, 19. Ayesha NORRIE, 20. Kate STEWART (gk) *two to be omitted*
Ins: Amy Chapman (returns from injury), Natasha Wheeler, Brooke Goodrich (both promoted)
Outs: Vedrana Popovic (ankle – 1 week)
Unavailable: none
Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 1. Trudy Burke (gk), 2. Caitlin Cooper, 3. Jessica Seaman, 5. Helen Petinos, 6. Rachael Soutar, 7. Kendall Johnson. 8. Grace Henry, 9. Keelin Winters, 10. Michelle Carney, 11. Lorena Bugden, 12. Hannah Beard, 14. Demi Koulizakis, 16. Linda O’Neill, 18. Tia Gavin, 20. Sham Khamis (gk)
Ins: Keelin Winters (returns from abroad), Linda O’Neill (returns from suspension)
Outs: Rhianna Pollicina, Victoria Guzman (both omitted)
Unavailable: Caitlin Jarvie (injury – 1 week)
