Emma Burke 
Amy Sayer (second from left, back row) lining up before a game against Canada in December, 2023. Photo: Hami Khangura/Football Australia
Making her return to the senior national team after tearing her ACL in April of last year, Amy Sayer is back and better than ever, and ready to make an impact on the field for the Matildas against Argentina.
“It was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” she said regarding her ACL rehabilitation.
“I was in the gym four plus hours a day twice a day… It was a lot of mental focus and a lot of physical endurance.”
Sayer made her return for her club team, Kristianstads DFF, who currently sit in fifth place of the Swedish Damallsvenskan, around a month ago, only eleven months after her injury. She’s now played in six games, three of which she’s started, and has already picked up two goals.
“I’ve scored two goals so far since being back which I think is a better record than last season in less games even. So I think I’ve come back even stronger and more motivated than ever before.”
“I don’t score so many goals as a midfielder but it’s a goal to score more, ironically, so it’s really good for me,” Sayer said.
Her inclusion in this squad came as a shock to her, as she’s only just returned to playing a full 90 minutes, and she admitted that she’d actually been aiming for her national team return in the next window.
“I wasn’t really expecting it, I was more aiming and hoping for the June window but any call up for the national team is incredible and I’m so grateful to be here,” she said.
Now in camp, all Sayer is looking to do is make the most of the opportunity she has and do what she can, wherever she can.
“Ideally I’d like to be in the attacking midfield position because that’s my speciality but I’m confident to play anywhere. I play a mixed number of positions in my team in Sweden.”
“Anywhere that Tom and the rest of the staff are willing to put me on, I just want to be on the field, get another cap, and try and impress the Australian fans.”
Listen to the latest episode of The Dubcast, Round Ball Australia’s Women’s Football podcast on Spotify, Apple, or watch on YouTube, with new episodes every Wednesday.