- Matildas won’t play until July 27
- Fowler is enjoying downtime in Australia
- Look relaxed and casual with Cleary
Matildas star Mary Fowler is fitting into WAG life with ease, pictured this week in loved-up scenes with her NRL boyfriend Nathan Cleary.
The versatile Manchester City forward is set to play a key role at the Paris Olympics, which start on July 26.
But after two friendlies against China, she will have some well-deserved rest ahead of the first Olympic match against Germany on the opening day of the games.
That’s why she’s spending time in Australia with her high-profile partner, who is making a comeback from injury.
Fowler looked relaxed and casual as she walked hand-in-hand with Cleary, wearing baggy clothes, ditching the make-up and wearing her hair in what appeared to be loose braids as they left the Panthers headquarters in Penrith.
Mary Fowler looked very relaxed and casual as she enjoyed time with her NRL boyfriend Nathan Cleary
The couple have been spotted outside the Panthers headquarters several times in recent days while the Matildas were on a break until the Paris Olympics
They walked hand in hand and looked lovingly into each other’s eyes as Fowler settled into WAG life with ease.
Cleary had just finished his daily rehabilitation due to a hamstring injury that will rule him out for eight weeks.
He is expected to miss the entire State of Origin series after aggravating the injury against the Bulldogs in May.
Scans revealed a grade two hamstring tear, which will also rule Cleary out of NRL matches next month.
Fowler was also spotted at a cafe in Sydney doing some shopping while her NRL star boyfriend trained with the Penrith Panthers over the long weekend.
Fowler wore a relaxed but stylish outfit: a brown cardigan over a plaid sweater, camouflage pants, a black crossbody bag and brown boots.
She emphasized her natural beauty by going makeup-free. The sighting came just days after Cleary spotted Fowler in the Matildas’ 2-0 win over China at Sydney’s Accor Stadium. He attended the game with his mother, Rebecca.
Fowler manages to look casual and stylish at the same time as she settles into life in Australia before the Olympics
Locals may have walked right past Fowler when out and about doing their shopping in the Penrith area this week
The couple will have plenty of time to spend together before the Olympics kick off against Germany on July 26
While Fowler is a certainty for Paris, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has been forced to gamble on the fitness of Katrina Gorry by including the injured midfielder in his squad.
Striker Caitilin Foord, who missed the Matildas’ recent friendly win over China due to a hamstring strain, was also in attendance.
Concerns over Foord’s fitness are mounting as Sam Kerr remains sidelined, but the Arsenal striker was keen to emphasize the approach was cautious after a World Cup campaign and grueling club duties.
Fowler will play a crucial role in the Olympics with Sam Kerr injured and Caitlin Foord also under an injury cloud
The versatile Manchester City forward can also play in midfield and will be the focal point of the Matildas attack in Paris
Should any of his eighteen players become injured between now and the group match against Germany in Marseille, Gustavsson will have four ‘alternative players’ available.
Courtney Nevin, retiring goalkeeper Lydia Williams, Sharn Freier and full-back Charlotte Grant make up the quartet on standby.
Grant is the unluckiest casualty as he has done an excellent job replacing first-choice right-back Ellie Carpenter, who missed 12 months in the run-up to last year’s World Cup due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
After facing Germany, Australia will meet Zambia and the US in their other pool matches.