VAN EGMOND RETURNS

EMILY van Egmond has returned to the Matildas with her club career settled and a determination to help Australia win the AFC Asian Women’s Cup for the first time since 2010.

The midfielder was missing when the Matildas lost 3-2 to Ireland last month in Dublin. Without a club following her decision in May to leave English Women’s Super League outfit West

Ham, van Egmond returned home after Australia’s Tokyo Olympics campaign in August.“I quarantined and then I just spent some time with my family,” said van Egmond, 28, who has rejoined US club Orlando Pride.

The Asian Cup is in India in January-February. The Matildas haven’t won the tournament in 11 years and were beaten finalists in 2006, 2014 and 2018.