Western United ALW Team News: Round 3 vs Melbourne City

Coming off the international break, Mark Torcaso has named a 20-player extended squad for Western United’s bumper Liberty A-League Women contest against Melbourne City.

Following on from a dramatic victory against Melbourne Victory two weeks ago, United will hope to harness some of that momentum and carry it into another difficult test this weekend.

After their signings were confirmed this week, both Hillary Beall and Avaani Prakash feature in the extended squad for the first time this season.

Still fresh from winning the Liberty A-League Goalkeeper of the Year award last season, Beall has returned and will be pushing to get straight back into the team to pick up from where she left off.

Prakash will be hoping for the chance to make her senior professional debut after arriving from New South Wales, with the 16-year-old showing her quality across pre-season.

Chloe Logarzo made her first start since ACL surgery in that clash and will hope to continue building on her developing fitness and sharpness.

The Matildas star got through 70 minutes against Victory and looked menacing in the final third, with her quality set to shine through again for the Green and Black.

Keiwa Hieda scored the all-important winner on that day and will be searching for involvement again having come off the bench in both of United’s fixtures so far this season.

Catherine Zimmerman remains sidelined as she ramps up her recovery from a foot injury in the hopes of a prompt return to the pitch.

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, 26. Natalie PICAK (gk)

Ins: 7. Kiara DE DOMIZIO, 13. Avaani PRAKASH (new signing), 14. Natasha DAKIC, 21. Hillary BEALL (new signing)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 17. Raquel DERALAS (injured), 34. Catherine ZIMMERMAN (injured)