Six German Bundesliga players, led by New Zealand skipper Rebecca Smith, have made the trek home for the matches in Mangere and Albany – the last at home for the Ferns before the London Olympics.
Sweden-based Ali Riley and Kirsty Yallop are also among the 11 overseas-based players joining the squad for the China friendlies but will miss two matches against Australia the following week, returning instead to club duty.
With a deadline for naming his Olympic squad looming, Readings has also found room to include uncapped Rebekah Stott and recall Emma Kete, who missed the Olympic qualifying win over Papua New Guinea. Striker Rosie White is still sidelined with injury.
Tauranga-born Stott recently made her age group debut for the New Zealand U-20s on a tour to the USA after previously representing Australia at age group level.
Readings says the tests against a nation New Zealand has not earned a result against in 12 full internationals will be a great yardstick for the Ferns’ Olympic preparations.
“With our playing stocks increasingly based overseas, any time together as a full group is incredibly valuable,” Readings says.
“The China games will be a huge benchmark for us a month out from the Olympics but the squad are hungry to push their claims for a place on the plane to London and home support could be crucial for us.”
Football Ferns squad for matches against China and Australia
Goalkeepers
Jenny BINDON (Hibiscus Coast – 66/0)
Rebecca ROLLS (Fencibles United – 13/5)
Defenders
Katie BOWEN (Glenfield Rovers – 6/0)
Abbey ERCEG (Fencibles United – 69/4)
Anna GREEN (FC Lokomotive Leipzig, GER – 46/5)
Kristy HILL (Eastern Suburbs – 18/0)
Ria PERCIVAL (USV Jena, GER – 66/8)
Ali RILEY (LDB FC Malmö, SWE – 59/1)
Rebecca SMITH (VfL Wolfsburg, GER- 64/4)
Rebekah STOTT (Melbourne Victory, AUS – 0/0)
Midfielders
Betsy HASSETT (Univ. California Berkeley, USA – 34/4)
Katie HOYLE (Bad Neuenahr, GER – 58/1)
Annalie LONGO (Three Kings United – 38/0)
Hayley MOORWOOD (Chelsea, ENG – 76/8)
Holly PATTERSON (Claudelands Rovers – 2/0)
Kirsty YALLOP (Vittsjö GIK, SWE – 57/11)
Forwards
Sarah GREGORIUS (Bad Neuenahr, GER – 24/14)
Amber HEARN (USV Jena, GER – 55/28)
Emma KETE (Unattached – 44/3)
Hannah WILKINSON (Glenfield Rovers – 30/12)
Management
Coach: Tony READINGS
Assistant coach: Gordon FORREST
GK coach: Danny ROBINSON
Manager: Julie HOGG
Doctor: Chris HANNA
Physiotherapist: Jen SAYER
Sports Scientist: Brad CONZA
Technical Analyst: Gary CONNELL
Media Officer: Jamie SCOTT
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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