Hayley Raso is the first to admit it’s been a tough year but the Matildas star is looking forward to returning to the national set-up and the Australian jersey in which she’s always thrived.
The 30-year-old is making her return from a disappointing season at Tottenham and a quad tendon injury suffered at the club earlier this year, which has seen her miss out on the last two international windows.
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“It’s always tough rehabbing, but it’s a little tougher rehabbing during the off season because the seasons are long and you play a lot of games. During the off season is usually when you’re able to have a little bit of a break, but I feel like I’ve been working very hard in silence, making sure I get myself right, back fit and firing,” Raso told foxsports.com.au.
“I’m going on 12 weeks now and have been ticking off all the boxes needed. So I’m about ready to get myself back.”
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The injury capped a challenging year for the Matildas’ midfielder, with Tottenham finishing second-last on the WSL ladder with 12 losses, five wins and five draws.
The day after Spurs sacked Ange Postecoglou, the axe also fell on their women’s coach Robert Vilahamn, with a replacement yet to be announced.
“Obviously it was a really tough season. We lost a lot of games and I had a couple of injuries, which was extremely frustrating. There is obviously a new coach coming in and at the moment we don’t know who that is, so it’s just a waiting game to see who they decide to bring in,” Raso said.
“I’m a player that performs really well when I’m happy and confident and I think those things are really important. I’ve been at a lot of great clubs and had a lot of great experiences, so I know that I play and perform well and at my best when I’m happy and confident, both on and off the pitch.”
And her happy place at the moment is with her Matildas teammates, as she prepares to take on Slovenia in a friendly on Thursday in Perth. It’ll be Raso’s 96th match for the Matildas as she edges closer to the 100-cap mark, a milestone only 16 women have achieved; seven of them still playing in the team.
“One thing I know is that I absolutely love playing for Australia. It’s my biggest honour. It’s where I’m happy and it’s where I’m confident. That’s why I always do well there,” Raso said.
“So for me, to be able to get back into this environment, to start myself off again after my rehab, It’s a really exciting time for me. I’m fit, I’m ready to go, so I’m looking forward to getting back into it again.”
This series marks a new era for the Matildas as new coach Joe Montemurro takes the reins, with this camp one of just three international windows left before next year’s Asian Cup to be held in Australia in March.
“Joe’s had great success at all the clubs he’s been at and he’s got a great track record,” Raso said.
“He’s going to come in and bring a new game plan and a new philosophy that we need to learn. It’s exciting because we’ve got some really big things coming up, firstly with the Asian Cup. To be able to have a coach in and to start a new chapter, we’re all looking forward to that.
“What I really like is that he’s Australian. He’s had great success in Europe and he knows the game so well. But he’s an Aussie, so he’s got that extra love for Australia, which we as a group all have too.
“So I think he’s the perfect fit for us. To have somebody with a wealth of experience and a wealth of knowledge, but to also be Australian and have the pride and love for the country like we do.”
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The Asian Cup is a big goal for Raso. The tournament will be played in Australia for the first time in 20 years and for just the second time ever.
It’s hoped it can bring a similar euphoria nationwide to the Matildas’ home World Cup run in 2023; the tournament which catapulted Raso’s career as she became a household name by scoring twice in a 4-0 win with Canada and again in the Round of 16 match with Denmark.
Shortly after the tournament, it was announced that she would become the first Australian ever to play for football powerhouse Real Madrid.
“The World Cup and performing well there really, really did a lot for us, not only in Australia, but in the public eye of many. We were recognised for what we did and how well we performed in that tournament, and that was exciting,” Raso said.
“Obviously after that, it took me to Real Madrid. Being the first Aussie there was special for me. It’s a huge club, a huge name, and I can’t speak highly enough of my time there. Now to be able to continue on, to know that we’ve got some big tournaments coming up, it’s an exciting time.”
**The Matildas take on Slovenia in the first of two friendlies in a series also featuring Panama on Thursday.