Comeback kid McNamara soaks up football return

Third time's a charm for comeback kid Holly McNamara.

The Melbourne City star, and three-cap Matildas forward, is back.

After 392 days on the sideline, McNamara returned from her third ACL rupture in City's 4-2 win over Canberra United on Sunday, entering the fray in the 72nd minute.

"I'm just so happy," McNamara said.

"That was so much fun to be back out there.

"I was just so excited, you couldn't wipe a smile off my face."

In less than 25 minutes, the 21-year-old showed glimpses of what she can do, with her tricky feet, pace, and guile.

"It's a funny feeling playing after such a long time, but I just kind of revert back to what I know I can do," she said.

"You miss everything.

"The contact, even yelling at people, laughing with people, yelling at the ref, just doing everything.

"You just miss all the little things and then it builds into actually getting to touch the ball again. So it feels nice."

McNamara was throwing her weight around as soon as she got on the field.

"It's better if I initiate contact than someone initiates it with me. And I think I've learned that from this rehab," she said.

Coach Michael Matricciani added: "It's been an absolute joy coaching her and working with her.

"She does the same thing in training. She's slide-tackling players, bumping players and giving them elbows. If they're not doing the right thing, she's telling them.

"She's a winner."

For McNamara, the comeback, in front of family and friends, is the culmination of the support of her City teammates and staff since her injury last November.

"I wouldn't be playing if it wasn't for them," she said.

"Even those first few weeks of being injured, they were in my ear, 'You can do it. You can come back stronger', whereas you think the whole world is ending.

"I can't thank everybody enough. This is down to them."

McNamara came desperately close to scoring a fairytale goal on her return, but hit the post - only for teammate Leticia McKenna to tap home the rebound.

A-League Women leaders City next face Adelaide on Friday night at Coopers Stadium and McNamara is already eyeing her next steps - under Matricciani's watchful eye.

"I hope he doesn't hold me back," she said.

While McNamara will focus on "trying to keep my knees happy" and building up her match fitness, her coach is excited by what's to come.

"We know her pace and I think she's going to be a real weapon for us off the bench, especially over this next couple of weeks as we're building our fitness," Matricciani said.

"Massive credit for her. To be able to come back from one ACL is always a big challenge.

"To come back from three at such a young age, whatever she does from now on, she's already a winner."