Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has conceded that question marks remain over the fitness of Katrina Gorry and Caitlin Foord, as well as his own future, as the star duo were included in an 18-player squad for the Paris Olympics.

Gorry and Foord were named in Australia’s squad announced on Tuesday despite ongoing injury concerns, while Charlotte Grant is among the players to miss out but will be available to cover any withdrawals as an “alternate”.

Midfielder Gorry has been out of action since March due to an ankle injury that required surgery, while Foord picked up a hamstring issue and lasted just 15 minutes as a substitute in the first friendly against China on Friday.

“‘Mini’ [Gorry] is obviously selected on where we hope and think she can be come the 25th of July,” Gustavsson said. “We hope progress is going positively. She’s on track, but there’s always a question mark.

“We think she will be in a good place. Everyone saw what she could bring in the World Cup, and even if she’s not fit for backing up 90 plus 90 plus 90 [minutes], her profile as a player, I need that in the Olympics.

“When it comes to Caitlin, we have been making sure we play it very safe. If this was a World Cup, maybe we could have pushed through and see what minutes we can get out of her, but we can’t afford to have a massive strain in her hamstring.”

Gustavsson has been in charge of the Matildas since 2020 and led them to their best Olympics result when finishing fourth at the Tokyo Games in his first major tournament, and then matching that at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

But the 50-year-old has refused to commit to leading the side beyond the Paris Games.

“Some months ago the conversations that we had, we said, ‘Let’s respect the current contract, work through this Olympics and then we pick up that conversation post-Olympics’,” Gustavsson said. “As of right now, when we speak, this is my last tournament. But we also said, ‘Let’s have a dialogue post the tournament’.”

Steph Catley will captain the Matildas with Ellie Carpenter and Emily van Egmond as vice-captains, with the three leaders set to join Foord, Mackenzie Arnold, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne and Tameka Yallop in becoming three-time Olympians.

Michelle Heyman will lead the line, as she did in the two friendlies against China, with Sam Kerr to miss the Paris Games and continue her rehabilitation after rupturing an ACL in January. The Canberra United striker’s inclusion completes her remarkable return to the Matildas set up, after making her one and only Olympic appearance at the Rio Games in 2016.

But with Kerr sidelined long-term, Heyman was picked to play her first international since 2018 when Australia faced Uzbekistan in the final stage of Olympic qualification in February this year, netting five times in the two-legged tie. The 35-year-old added a last-gasp goal to salvage a draw for the Matildas in the first international friendly with China at Adelaide Oval.

Grant became a regular for Australia at right-back when Carpenter was sidelined with an ACL injury, but struggled for playing time at the Women’s World Cup and will now be one of four reserves at the Paris Games.

Goalkeeper Lydia Williams was named as another reserve after her international send-off in the second friendly against China on Monday night, while Sharn Freier and Courtney Nevin have also been included as back-ups.

The four travelling reserves can be added to the playing squad at any time during the Paris Games to replace a teammate forced to withdrawal due to injury or other reasons. But the reserves will not be considered as Olympians, or able to play or train with the squad, unless called in as a replacement.

“There were some last spots there [against China in Sydney], that last game had an impact, not that it was the decider, but I added that to the whole year of preparing,” Gustavsson said. “I’m telling you some players that I’ve had to leave out actually deserved to be selected. I didn’t have enough spots.”

Gustavsson hopes the squad will have more game time together in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, including in the one international women’s football window remaining before their campaign starts. The Matildas kick off their Olympics against Germany on 26 July, then face Zambia and the USA to complete the group stage.

Australia squad for Paris Olympic Games

Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Teagan Micah; Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley (captain), Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne, Kaitlyn Torpey; Midfielders: Kyra Cooney-Cross, Emily van Egmond, Katrina Gorry, Clare Wheeler, Tameka Yallop; Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman, Hayley Raso, Cortnee Vine; Alternates: Sharn Freier, Charlotte Grant, Courtney Nevin, Lydia Williams.