Football: Good news in threes for Wilkinson

Northlander Hannah Wilkinson has had a busy week - scoring two goals for her University of Tennessee side, had her scholarship renewed, and has been named in the Football Ferns squad for a three-match tour of France and Norway. Photo / File

Whangarei's Hannah Wilkinson has capped off a trifecta this week with her being reselected in the Football Ferns squad for a three-match tour of France and Norway later this month.

Wilkinson, 22, returns to the side after missing the Oceania Women's Nations Cup last month through injury, much to the delight of her coach, Tony Readings, who is glad to have another player with more than 50 caps back in the fold.

"Thankfully for us we're able to welcome back Kirsty [Yallop] and Hannah, who were unavailable through injury for the last tour," he said. "They've bolstered the squad and their experience is going to be really needed in these upcoming matches." Wilkinson's reselection comes off the back of her scoring a second-half double for her Tennessee football team in their SEC Tournament semifinal last Friday - which her side lost 3-2 to Kentucky.

Completing the trifecta for Wilkinson is news her scholarship has been renewed with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, US.

However, before Wilkinson can sink her teeth into another season with Tennessee she will need to prove herself on the international scene again as coach Readings looks to continue preparations for the 2015 Fifa Women's World Cup.

Readings said while a core group of players had been standing up, he wanted more players challenging for spots.

"There's a settled core among the squad which we want to unsettle a bit. We want to make sure the people chasing the pack are getting more exposure and more experience. "We've said it all along that when we get to the World Cup we'll be picking a squad of 21 and there are some players in there you could almost guarantee their spots and some not so much." The November European tour provided an opportunity for the group to continue their work in refining their playing system against strong opponents with one eye firmly focused on June's showcase tournament.

Also selected in the squad is Hayley Bowden, wife of Taniwha player Daniel Bowden.

Football Ferns

Erin Nayler, Rebecca Rolls, Catherine Bott, Abby Erceg, Meikayla Moore, Ria Percival, Ali Riley, Rebekah Stott, Hayley Bowden, Isabella Coombes, Betsy Hassett, Katie Hoyle, Annalie Longo, Evie Millynn, Kirsty Yallop, Helen Collins, Sarah Gregorius, Amber Hearn, Jasmine Pereira, Hannah Wilkinson.