Karly Roestbakken is continuing her journey back to 90 minutes and is likely to feature in Tony Gustavsson's plans for the Matildas upcoming matches against the United States.
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The defender's second season in Norway's top flight wrapped up on Saturday, after her side LSK Kvinner FK lost 2-0 to IL Sandviken and finished third.
She secured a few more minutes under her belt against Toppserien league winner's Sanviken, after coming on in the 92nd minute.
The 20-year-old was sidelined for the majority of the season due to a foot injury that reached breaking point in April.
"It's been progressing really well, so I'm looking to just build up game time now and get match fit, that's the next progression," she said.
"We have preseason in January/February and then I think the league is looking to start in March hopefully next season."
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The former Canberra United player was making ground in Norway, and the national side, before her injury sidelined her for more than six months.
She started for the Matildas friendly against Germany in April but had to be subbed off early in the game due to her foot. Weeks later, as Norway's season got under way in May, she underwent surgery.
Her return came three rounds out from the conclusion of the Norwegian season, during her side's 3-1 win over Stabaek last month, in the 82nd minute.
Despite returning to Australia last month, for the Matildas first matches on home soil in almost 600 days, Roestbakken did not get any minutes against Brazil.
With the relaxed COVID-19 restrictions on Australia's international arrivals, the Matildas will return for their matches against the US in coming weeks without quarantine protocols.
The side were in a bubble during their matches last month, and had to interact with family and friends in the crowd from a distance.
Tony Gustavsson has been trying different formations and combinations for the Matildas since he took on the head coaching gig last year, testing out 4-3-3 and 3-4-3 line ups.
Roestbakken fits into his vision for either formation as an overlapping fullback and she said both worked for the team.
"We've been working on both of them quite a lot so that we can interchange when we need to," she said.
"With three at the back ... I love it because you get the best of both worlds, especially in my position.
"You get to defend and then you get to attack, and it is a lot of running, but I think it's a fun position to play because you have a lot to do and you're heavily involved."
The Matildas squad for the upcoming two matches against the world number one's has not been decided yet, but Roestbakken will be vying for some game time.
Either way, she plans to be in the capital for Christmas.
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Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
