Hannah Wilkinson returns to the Football Ferns squad after suspension. Photo: MARTY MELVILLE / AFP
Two uncapped players have been named in the Football Ferns squad for next month's Olympic qualifying tournament in Samoa.
Wellington Phoenix players Macey Fraser and Brianna Edwards are the only uncapped players in the 24 strong squad, which includes five players were not part of the end of year tour to Colombia - among them striker Hannah Wilkinson who missed the trip due to suspension.
A notable absenctee is co-captain and England based Ria Percival who has recently moved clubs in the English Women's Championship.
Percival, 34, is now with Crystal Palace on loan from Tottenham Hotspur for the rest of the seaon.
Six other players - CJ Bott, Milly Clegg, Meikayla Moore, Ali Riley, Paige Satchell and Malia Steinmetz were unavailable due to injury.
The Football Ferns will be hoping for more success than in 2023 - when they had just two wins from 16 games and scored only five goals in total.
"The format of tournament football always presents unique challenges and opportunities. In this case, with games happening every three days in hot and humid conditions, we have to be efficient in our final preparation and diligent with our recovery," said coach Jitka Klimkova.
Football Ferns coach Jitka Klimkova. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand play Tonga, Vanuatu and hosts Samoa at the tournament which they must win to qualify for the Olympics for a fifth time.
"The format of tournament football always presents unique challenges and opportunities," said coach Jitka Klimkova.
"In this case, with games happening every three days in hot and humid conditions, we have to be efficient in our final preparation and diligent with our recovery.
Klimkova said last year's World Cup highlighted the ever increasing standard of the women's game.
"The OFC teams are no exception to that. We will rely on the full depth of our roster to meet the challenges that the teams in OFC will present to us," she said.
"The qualifiers are also a good opportunity to have the team together for an extended international window which, especially at the start of this new cycle, is really important to build on our connection on and off the pitch and lay the foundation for our style of play and evolution as a team for 2024 and beyond."
The full squad is:
Liz Anton* (19 caps) Perth Glory FC, Australia
Mackenzie Barry (9 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
Katie Bowen (100 caps) Inter Milan, Italy
Claudia Bunge (24 caps) HB Køge, Denmark
Daisy Cleverley (33 caps) HB Køge, Denmark
Ava Collins (13 caps) St John's University, USA
Brianna Edwards (0 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
Victoria Esson (20 caps) Rangers FC, Scotland
Michaela Foster (10 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
Macey Fraser (0 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
Ally Green (7 caps) AGF, Denmark
Jacqui Hand (19 caps) Lewes FC, England
Betsy Hassett (152 caps) Stjarnan FC, Iceland
Grace Jale (23 caps) Perth Glory, Australia
Katie Kitching (2 caps) Sunderland AFC, England
Anna Leat (13 caps) Aston Villa FC, England
Annalie Longo (133 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
Ruby Nathan* (1 caps) Canberra United, Australia
Grace Neville (6 caps) London City Lionesses, England
Gabi Rennie (30 caps) Unattached
Indiah-Paige Riley (16 caps) PSV Vrouwen, Netherlands
Rebekah Stott (96 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
Kate Taylor (11 caps) Wellington Phoenix FC, New Zealand
Hannah Wilkinson (119 caps) Melbourne City FC, Australia
* First game only
