Canberra United forward Michelle Heyman has been named in the Matildas squad for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games starting next month.

The 35-year-old will feature in her second Olympic Games after Rio in 2016 and will be one of the main goal-scoring threats given the absence of star Sam Kerr. The veteran is one of 18 players selected to squad in Sydney on Tuesday, with four players selected on an ‘alternate’ list. 

Tony Gustavsson has gambled on the fitness of Caitlin Foord and Katrina Gorry, naming the injured duo in his squad.

Midfielder Gorry (ankle) and striker Foord (hamstring) both missed Australia’s final pre-Paris hit-out against China in Sydney on Monday night.

Gorry, who is arguably Australia’s most influential player, hasn’t played a competitive match since injuring herself playing for club side West Ham. 

“I know that this team will give everything for the coat of arms and will represent Australia to the best of their ability in the true Aussie way,” Gustavsson said.

The coach named his

Courtney Nevin, retiring goalkeeper Lydia Williams, Sharn Freier and fullback Charlotte Grant are the quartet on standby.

Grant is the most unfortunate casualty having done a solid job standing in for first-choice right-back Ellie Carpenter, who missed 12 months of action in the build-up to last year’s World Cup with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. 

Australia kick off their group stage fixtures against Germany in Marseille on July 25 before facing Zambia and the USA. 

MATILDAS OLYMPIC SQUAD 

Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah

Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley (capt), Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne, Kaitlyn Torpey

Midfielders: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Emily van Egmond, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop

Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine

Alternates: Lydia Williams, Sharn Freier, Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin.