Big Matildas storylines that have gone under the radar as spotlight shines on Kerr's return

"This is the first time in a long time that we've had a very strong, competitive group."

That was the response Teagan Micah gave when reflecting on the bumpy road that has put the Matildas back to almost a full complement ahead of their England and Wales friendlies, in the international window that kicks of this weekend.

From a nine-month stint without a permanent coach to welcoming back key playmakers who had been out with injuries, the Matildas have endured it all in 2025.

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But all those obstacles are no longer at the front of mind of Australian fans, with the long-awaited return of Sam Kerr dominating headlines in recent weeks.

A two-year stint on the sidelines for the national team will come to an end for Kerr, who is expected to ease her way back in against Wales on Sunday.

While all Australian fans are excited about what the 32-year-old can bring, an internal battle to secure a starting spot - or in some cases, just secure a place in the squad - will also be unfolding.

Two camps left before the Asian Cup

There are just two more international windows until the Asian Cup kicks off in 2026, meaning the side's upcoming stars have limited chances left to showcase their worth.

Football Australia has confirmed New Zealand will be the last team the Matildas face in this year's international windows, following the upcoming Wales and England matches.

Coach Joe Montemurro has utilised young guns Jamilla Rankin, Amy Sayer, Kahli Johnson and Bryleeh Henry in recent international windows.

That group faces competition from several World Cup stars to secure a spot in the 23-player squad.

The absence of Kerr and Mary Fowler has opened the door for new faces to flourish, but both stars are expected to be fit and ready for the Asian Cup next year.

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Rankin and Sayer were both recalled for the October window against England and Wales, with those opponents set to pose vastly different attacking challenges for Australia.

England will enter the match off the back of an impressive 2025 UEFA European Championship victory, where they defeated World Cup winners, Spain, for the title.

Meanwhile, Wales, who are ranked 32nd overall, have not won a match since December.

But the next generation of stars are not the only ones fighting for a spot on the team.

Will Micah keep hold of the gloves?

Plenty of players in the side have endured their fair share of heartbreaks over the years, with Charli Grant a recent example, having missed the squad for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after spending several years as a mainstay.

The 24-year-old did, however, travel with the team as a reserve to Paris. She has since gone on to regain a regular spot in the squad.

A similar situation is blooming amongst the defensive group for the Matildas, with cult hero Mackenzie Arnold losing out to Teagan Micah as the side's first-choice goalkeeper.

An Arnold arm injury opened the door for Micah to push her case to win over new coach Montemurro in the build-up to the Asian Cup and she has so far impressed.

Micah has been named as the starting goalkeeper in all but two international friendlies since April, with Chloe Lincoln named to start in the second match against Panama while Arnold stepped in for the second clash against Slovenia.

Although Micah has seemingly settled into the top spot in recent months, it remains unclear if Montemurro will look to the success of Arnold at the World Cup - where she earned the nicknames of 'the brick wall' and 'minister of defence' - for the Asian Cup.

"That is obviously my main goal," Micah told media ahead of the Wales clash when asked about her hopes of keeping the starting goalkeeper spot for the Matildas.

"We have a very competitive goalkeeping union - that's always been the case."

Arnold and Micah have both moved to develop their careers with new teams at club level, heading to Portland Thorns FC and Lyon respectively.

At Lyon, Micah is learning from the experience of veteran Chile's Christiane Endler, who is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the game.

"I wouldn't make any move that wouldn't better my career," Micah added of her move away from the WSL to the Premiere Ligue.

"I just take it one game at a time. [Club and country] are two separate environments, but I hope they can bounce off each other and help myself in the long run."

Veteran's spot clouded by Kerr's return

Michelle Heyman is another veteran of the Australian team that has a cloud over her head for the Asian Cup, having been called out of retirement in Kerr's absence.

Holly McNamara and Emily Gielnik also stepped into the shoes of the Chelsea striker during her recovery, with all three players delivering strong performances this year.

But with Kerr being welcomed back into the team, where does the trio fit?

Heyman has made it clear that she does not believe her superstar teammate's return means she no longer has a spot in the team, rather suggesting that the power of the pair linking up has not been considered in the public selection narrative.

The 37-year-old has also noted her desire to win a trophy alongside Kerr, who she has been named in teams with since the latter was 16-years-old.

There is no doubting that Heyman still has what it takes to lead the team to win trophies.

Both Heyman and Kerr have been named in the squad that will line-up against Wales.

It is unclear if Montemurro will look to field the pair at the same time.

The Matildas clash against Wales will kick off at 12am AEDT on Sunday at Cardiff City Stadium, before the group travels to England to face the Lionesses on October 29 AEDT.

Full Matildas squad for Wales & England matches:

Morgan Aquino [GK], Mackenzie Arnold [GK], Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Katrina Gorry, Charlotte Grant, Winonah Heatley, Michelle Heyman, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Sam Kerr, Holly McNamara, Teagan Micah [GK], Courtney Nevin, Jamilla Rankin, Hayley Raso, Amy Sayer, Remy Siemnsen, Kaitlyn Torpey, Emily van Egmond, Cortnee Vine, Clare Wheeler