The selection comes after a breakthrough display at last month’s OFC U-20 Championships.
Wilkinson, 17, scored five goals in three games at the U-20 qualifiers including a hat-trick on her age-group debut but New Zealand coach John Herdman saw enough in the North Force striker to include her for the Football Ferns matches against the Matildas on Wednesday and Saturday.
“Hannah’s just shown a real energy and freshness in her approach,” Herdman said.
“She’s been given an opportunity through her performances within the U-20 environment, and in friendlies against the senior side she’s shown she can score goals against some pretty seasoned defenders.
“We’ve given her a shot and she’s excited not just the coaching staff but also her peers.”
Wilkinson’s U-20 striker partner Rosie White reclaims her place in the senior ranks after a goal-laden return from injury in the OFC U-20 Women’s Championships that netted a golden boot winning nine goals in just three starts.
While a total of 19 players have been named, just 18 will be used for each of the Australia series and the Cyprus cup that begins on February 24 in the Mediterranean.
German-based professional Rebecca Smith will play in Cyprus but is unavailable for the trans-Tasman series, so age-group defender Bridgette Armstrong, who isn’t in the travelling party to Europe will get a chance in the home games to add to her single senior cap.
Ali Riley, who recently became the first New Zealander to break through into the ranks of USA’s Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) as a first round draft pick by FC Gold Pride, will miss the first fixture against the Matildas at North Harbour Stadium on Wednesday night, but will be available for the second match at Bill McKinley Park and the entire Cyprus campaign.
“We can’t afford to miss any of those players, Riley and Smith are our two key professionals in the team and the Australia squad will be stacked with WPS players. They’re a big loss but it gives us a chance to test our depth and gives other players a chance.”
Herdman says his team are determined to put on a strong display in their first home internationals in three years, but repeating last year’s top four finish at the Cyprus Cup is an even stronger focus.
“Of course we want to win the Australia games but the Cyprus Cup tournament is what we’ve built a lot of our preparation around. Part of the way we use the games here will be to work out our starting eleven for Cyprus.
The matches against Australia are highlights of Girls and Women’s’ Football Week, a nationwide recruitment drive to attract more players, coaches and referees to the sport via local events.
Football Ferns squad for Australia Series and Cyprus Cup
Goalkeepers
Jenny BINDON (Hibiscus Coast – 37/0)
Aroon CLANSEY (Three Kings United – 1/0)
Defenders
Bridgette ARMSTRONG (Glenfield Rovers – 1/0)*
Anna GREEN (Three Kings United – 18/1)
Abby ERCEG (Fencibles United – 37/2)
Kristy HILL (Three Kings United – 8/0)
Ria PERCIVAL (Lynn-Avon United – 37/3)
Ali RILEY (FC Gold Pride, USA – 29/0)
Rebecca SMITH (VfL Wolfsburg, Germany – 37/0)**
Midfielders
Betsy HASSETT (UC Berkeley, USA – 9/1)
Katie HOYLE (Lynn-Avon United – 25/0)
Annalie LONGO (Three Kings United – 21/0)
Hayley MOORWOOD (Captain / Fencibles United – 46/3)
Hannah WALL (Waterside-Karori – 3/2)
Kirsty YALLOP (Fencibles United – 30/9)
Forwards
Amber HEARN (Lynn-Avon United – 23/5)
Emma KETE (Ottawa Fury, Canada – 24/3)
Rosie WHITE (Three Kings United – 7/0)
Hannah WILKINSON (North Force – 0/0)
Coach: John Herdman
*Australia series only
**Cyprus Cup only
New Zealand v Australia
Match One
North Harbour Stadium
Albany, Auckland
Wednesday 17 February
Kickoff: 7pm
Match Two
Bill McKinley Park
Panmure, Auckland
Saturday 20 February
Kickoff: 3pm
2010 Cyprus Cup
New Zealand v Italy
Nicosia, Cyprus
February 24 (4am Feb 25 NZT)
New Zealand v the Netherlands
Larnanca, Cyprus
February 26 (1am Feb 27 NZT)
New Zealand v Scotland
Larnanca, Cyprus
March 1 (1am Mar 2 NZT)
Playoffs
March 3 (March 4 NZT)
Story courtesy NZ Football.