Both have been included in the Matildas' squad for the forthcoming Women's Asian Cup, which takes place every four years and will be played in Australia over the coming month.

The hosts will be hoping to go all the way to the final, which will be played on 21 March. However, that would mean Carpenter and Kerr will miss high-profile games for the Blues, including our League Cup final against Manchester United on 15 March.

It's why Carpenter had mixed emotions when we spoke to the full-back before her journey home.

‘It happened four years ago as well,’ she says. ‘It’s bittersweet. I’m a bit disappointed to miss some games for Chelsea, and the League Cup would have been my first final with the team as well. But I'm excited to go and play in the tournament and hope that we can go far.’

For supporters not familiar with the Asian Cup format, our summer signing outlined how it also facilitates qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, a different process to that undertaken by her European colleagues.

‘It's the equivalent of the Euros because it’s every four years,’ Carpenter explains. ‘There aren’t as many teams as the Euros, but it’s still massive stakes. The Asian Cup also has another layer of importance because it's how we qualify for the World Cup.

‘It works as two things. The winner gets a trophy at the end, and then the top six teams qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. There are normally three groups of four teams, then we have group stage games and then a quarterfinal, semi and final.

‘It's a really big tournament for us, and maybe some people who are not familiar with it don't understand that. It's all the best teams from Asia, such as Japan, Korea and China.

Carpenter has been in excellent form for Chelsea following her switch to south west London from French side OL Lyonnes in the summer. The 25-year-old's absence will be felt by head coach Sonia Bompastor, but Carpenter believes her club form will stand her in good stead with Australia.

‘I feel good at the moment,’ says Carpenter. ‘I think going into a tournament in mid-season is kind of strange, but I’ve played games every three days for Chelsea in November and December. So, I think for my rhythm, I’ll be able to cope with a game every three days in tournament mode.

‘The opposition will be different. Playing Korea and Japan will be different types of games from what I'm used to here in England, but international football is always unpredictable, and anything can happen. I'm excited to go and play for my country and hopefully qualify for the World Cup and win the Asian Cup.’