Western United ALW Team News: Round 14 vs Melbourne City

Western United will take on Melbourne City in a mid-week Liberty A-League Women blockbuster, and Kat Smith has brought two massive inclusions into her extended squad.

Kahli Johnson and Catherine Zimmerman are both fit to be named in a 20-player squad and could be in line for their first minutes under Smith as head coach.

Johnson has not played since United’s defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers two months ago to the date and will be a welcome addition back into the side.

The winger will hope to pick up where she left off with a string of superb performances early on in the season, scoring twice in her six appearances.

Fellow forward Zimmerman has been waiting some three months to make her Western United debut and could do it at AAMI Park on Thursday.

Finalising her recovery from a stress fracture in her foot, the American forward gives Smith a huge boost in the final third for this game and for the rest of the season.

What Smith won’t appreciate, though, will be the headaches she will undoubtedly have when it comes to selecting her team with a plethora of attacking options at her disposal.

Keiwa Hieda has been outstanding on the wing and scored her third goal of the season last week, Adriana Taranto has also featured heavily out wide and is in team-leading form while Chloe Logarzo has looked at her all-star best when playing further forward.

Add in to the mix Hannah Keane who is still increasing her sharpness after a recent muscle injury, and the Green and Black’s attack is looking incredibly potent.

At the other end of the pitch United is equally well equipped, with Alana Cerne and Grace Maher hoping to continue their run of playing every single minute of the season so far.

Stacey Papadopoulos, Julia Sardo, Tyla Jay Vlajnic and Lucy Richards all continue to compete for opportunities in the full-back positions, while Natasha Dakic will be eager for more involvement after an impressive second-half cameo in Sunday’s win against Adelaide United.

Full Western United extended squad

Western United squad: 1. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (gk), 2. Stacey PAPADOPOULOS, 4. Jaclyn SAWICKI, 6. Chloe LOGARZO, 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 9. Hannah KEANE, 10. Kahli JOHNSON, 11. Emma ROBERS, 12. Lucy RICHARDS, 13. Avaani PRAKASH, 14. Natasha DAKIC, 15. Adriana TARANTO, 16. Melissa TARANTO, 18. Grace MAHER, 19. Tyla Jay VLAJNIC, 20. Keiwa HIEDA, 21. Hillary BEALL (gk), 22. Alana CERNE, 24. Julia SARDO, 34. Catherine ZIMMERMAN

Ins: 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 10. Kahli JOHNSON (returns from injury), 12. Lucy RICHARDS, 34. Catherine ZIMMERMAN (returns from injury)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 17. Raquel DERALAS (injured)