Football Ferns Meikayla Moore will play an international in hometown for the first time. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2018
The Football Ferns homecoming squad for two matches in Christchurch against South Korea is headlined by five Cantabrians.
The 24-strong squad for the first games in New Zealand since 2018 includes Vic Esson, Meikayla Moore, Gabi Rennie, Ashleigh Ward and Kate Taylor will return to their hometown on Football Ferns duty for the first time.
The Football Ferns last played in Christchurch in 1991.
The November window squad also marks a first senior call up for Wellington Phoenix midfielder Grace Wisnewski.
Wisnewski, who impressed in her first A-League season with the Phoenix, is the latest member of this year's Junior Football Ferns squad to receive a senior call-up.
Wisnewski missed three Phoenix games for mental health reasons and when she returned to football after a mental health break she started all three of the Junior Football Ferns' group matches at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Costa Rica in August, scoring their opening goal of the tournament.
Head coach Jitka Klimková was looking forward to welcoming the midfielder to the Football Ferns.
"Grace has been a consistent performer in the A-League and at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. I always saw her as an aggressive defender, but in the World Cup environment she also showed how dangerous she is going forward, especially against Colombia," Klimková said.
"I also want to commend Grace on her bravery in talking about her challenges at the end of the A-League season...she has come back so much stronger, and can be a great role model for other young players coming through."
The Football Ferns last played world 17-ranked South Korea in a two-game series last November, securing Klimková's first win as the head coach.
"The team's looking forward to getting to Christchurch, and playing in a city where we unfortunately won't have FIFA Women's World Cup games next year," Klimková said.
"Our goal is to inspire through football, so having that spread of games across New Zealand over the next year will give more people the opportunity to watch international football."
Football Ferns squad November 2022
Elizabeth Anton; Perth Glory, Australia (13/0)
Mackenzie Barry; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (1/0)
Katie Bowen; Unattached (85/3)
Claudia Bunge; Melbourne Victory FC, Australia (14/0)
Olivia Chance; Celtic FC, Scotland (35/1)
Daisy Cleverley; HB Køge, Denmark (22/2)
Ava Collins; St John's University, USA (5/0)
Victoria Esson; Rangers FC, Scotland (10/0)
Ally Green; Vålerenga, Norway (2/0)
Jacqui Hand; Aland United, Finland (10/1)
Betsy Hassett; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (135/14)
Grace Jale; Canberra United, Australia (8/2)
Anna Leat; Aston Villa FC, England (9/0)
Meikayla Moore; Glasgow City FC, Scotland (58/4)
Erin Nayler; Umeå IK, Sweden (78/0)
Gabi Rennie; Arizona State University, USA (16/2)
Ali Riley; Angel City FC, USA (147/2)
Indiah-Paige Riley; Fortuna Hjørring, Denmark (3/0)
Emma Rolston; Avaldsnes IL, Norway (13/6)
Paige Satchell; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (33/2)
Malia Steinmetz; Western Sydney Wanderers, Australia (11/0)
Kate Taylor; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ (5/0)
Ashleigh Ward; Southampton FC, England (2/0)
Grace Wisnewski; Wellington Phoenix FC, NZ, (0/0)*
