06 March 2020

Everton manager Willie Kirk hopes Matildas star Hayley Raso will be available for Chelsea clash

Everton manager Willie Kirk hopes new signing Hayley Raso will make her debut against Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Raso broke her nose and needed surgery after playing for Australia in an Olympic qualifier earlier this year.

Everton face Chelsea on March 15 and Kirk has said Raso may be a feature in the Matildas side in the international break.

"We’re certainly hoping Hayley will be in the squad [for the Chelsea game].

“She’ll hopefully feature in Australia’s matches over this international break having recovered from her nose operation.

“Then, if she gets here injury-free, she will be included in the squad for the match. She provides pace, directness, aggression and goals.

“It will be exciting to finally get her across and working with us. It’s another lift for us.

“She has got high standards and it will just raise the intensity and the expectations around the group to even greater levels,” he told the club website.

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