Matildas & Man City star Mary Fowler posts cryptic poem

Matildas star Mary Fowler has posted a series of photos to social media, including a cryptic poem - as she is separated from boyfriend Nathan Cleary by 17,000km for several months.

The 20-year-old, who is now back in the UK playing for Manchester City, made the Instagram post on Tuesday morning.

Fowler posted a selfie of herself smiling, some shots of herself on the pitch, and a poem by artist Morgan Harper Nichols.

The poem talks about 'cultivating peace high above your understanding', and softening one's heart.

The post comes a couple of weeks after the couple went official with each other on Instagram, with Fowler posting a shot of the footy player with his arm around her, and the couple beaming with joy.

Cleary made the same move - proudly sharing a photo of the pair chilling on the beach.

The pair were reunited at Sydney Airport late last month, having not seen each other since November 2, and were almost inseparable until her return to England. Fowler spent a couple of days over Christmas away from Cleary, which she spent with family in Cairns.

Their romance became public courtesy of Daily Mail Australia's exclusive photos of them in a Perth park before Australia's game againt Chinese Taipei.

Cleary watched on as Fowler scored in a 3-0 win for the Matildas.

Both athletes are said to be very private when it comes to their relationships, but Cleary recently admitted that the intense spotlight on his personal life is something he didn't expect.

'Obviously it's different from when I was young coming into first grade and people are dissecting my game. I hadn't had that before,' Cleary told News Corp.

'That was a hurdle at the time. You start to learn to deal with that.'

The three-time premiership-winning halfback has accepted that the media attention is not something he can control, either.

'I haven't had too many people look into my personal life. But it's just what comes with it. It's something that I can't control,' he said.

Fowler recently talked about her dream to start a family of her own when she proved a huge hit with the youngsters at the Rise & Shine Kindergarten in the city's south, then she and Cleary enjoyed a lunch date at Penrith in Sydney's far west.

The smitten couple then looked more loved-up than ever as they gave each other tips on how to play their respective footy codes during an hour-long exercise session at an oval near Cleary's Penrith home.

Both stars looked over the moon to be together and got affectionately hands-on as Fowler tested her NRL passing skills and Cleary showed surprising ability with a soccer ball.

Cleary and Fowler first attracted attention as a potential couple after being spotted together on two occasions following the Women's World Cup.

Initial sightings included a leisurely walk along the Nepean River in Penrith, where the 25-year-old NRL sensation and the Matildas striker were seen spending quality time together.