Canberra United legend Ash Sykes has answered the prayers of coach Heather Garriock and come out of retirement for the final five games of the W-League season.
United are enduring a horror run of injuries and Sykes will come off the bench for their season-defining game against Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park on Thursday night.
Former Canberra United captain Ash Sykes has come out of retirement. Credit:Jamila Toderas
Sykes, 27, was a Canberra foundation player who wowed fans from her debut as 16-year-old alongside her twin sister Nicole Begg before becoming club captain.
Sykes was named the league's best-and-fairest in 2015-16, won the golden boot in 2016-17, clinched two championships and scored 41 goals in 108 games for Canberra.
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Cometh the hour, cometh Sykes.
"We'd joked about it a few times but then Heather asked me for real a few weeks ago and I said I can't be one of those people who retires then comes back," Sykes said.
"Then we had some more injuries and she asked again and I thought 'Oh no I'm going to be that guy'.
"It got to a point where the squad was depleted and needed to find a way to get some results in the second half of the season, so I said 'All right let's go for it'.
"I'm always happy to do whatever Canberra United needs to be successful and this is one of those times I had to put my hand up and see what I could do to help out."
Sykes was known for her devastating speed and has been keeping fit but said she'll need some time before she feels comfortable starting.
Canberra United coache Heather Garriock (right) and Ash Sykes.Credit:Karleen Minney
"Ill have to earn my spot, Heather made that quite clear. I said straight up I'm not ready for 90 but if you need me off the bench Ill put my hand up," Sykes said.
"Impact player is something I'm pretty familiar with from my Matildas days and Canberra in the first few years, I'm ready to do whatever job is required.
"I'm in reasonable shape, nowhere near what I used to be used and not W-League shape but now the challenge is to be ready if and when Canberra needs me."
Garriock backed Sykes to score in her comeback match and praised her commitment to the cause.
"It just shows how selfless she is, the team is in need and she really believes and loves Canberra United and wants to do it for the club," Garriock said.
"I wouldn't put it past her to score the winning goal this week. What a great person she is on and off off the field."
Former fan favourite Sykes admitted she was looking forward to making her return at McKellar Park and backed the seventh-placed United to still make finals.
"It was hard walking out that first game of the year at McKellar [as a coach], you get tingles and so many memories so it would be exciting if I get a run on Thursday," Sykes said.
"Weve got the opportunity to play teams above us on the table and in the top four and if we get results against them it will really boost our chances of making finals.
"It's all in our hands how we want the season to go and that starts this week, the teams has played awesome at McKellar and hopefully we'll see more of that against Brisbane."
W-LEAGUE ROUND NINE
Thursday: Canberra United v Brisbane Roar at McKellar Park, 7:30pm.
Eamonn Tiernan is a sports reporter with The Canberra Times
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