Fans of the Australian women’s national soccer team, the Matildas, were dealt a blow recently as interim head coach Tom Sermanni suggested that star striker Sam Kerr is unlikely to return to action this year. The news came as Sermanni named an expanded 36-player squad for a series of upcoming friendly matches on home soil.
Kerr’s Rehab Going “Really Well” But Return Timeline Unclear
Kerr, widely regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, has been sidelined since January due to a knee injury. While there were hopes among fans that the 31-year-old Chelsea forward might be nearing a comeback, Sermanni poured cold water on those expectations.
“Her rehab is going really, really, really well,” Sermanni said of Kerr’s progress. However, he noted that ACL injuries historically require a full year’s recovery, suggesting Kerr is still months away from a return to the pitch.
Things are getting a little bit better in rehab, but in reality it’s still probably a 12-month injury, and Sam’s taking that time to come back to ensure that hopefully, when she comes back, she’s going to be completely fit and healthy.
Tom Sermanni, Matildas interim head coach
Star-Studded Squad Named for Friendlies
Despite Kerr’s absence, Sermanni named a formidable squad featuring many of Australia’s top talents for the upcoming friendly matches. Mary Fowler, Hayley Raso, Steph Carpenter, Kyra Cooney-Cross, and captain Steph Catley were among the notable inclusions.
The coach emphasized that all players named should be considered “Matilda stars”, whether they have one cap or 201. He pointed to the lack of recent international opportunities and said he wants to give more players a chance to shine on the big stage.
Five Uncapped Players Called Up
In addition to the established stars, Sermanni handed call-ups to five uncapped players: goalkeeper Morgan Aquino, midfielders Leah Davidson, Isabel Gomez, and Hana Lowry, and defender Natasha Prior. Apart from DC Power goalkeeper Aquino, the other four all currently ply their trade in the domestic A-League Women competition.
A-League Women Stars Rewarded for Strong Form
The Matildas squad features a strong contingent of 16 A-League Women players, with Melbourne-based trio Alex Chidiac, Emily Gielnik and Chloe Logarzo earning recalls after impressing in the early stages of the new season.
However, there was no place for North Carolina Courage winger Cortnee Vine, who remains unavailable due to personal reasons. “We’ve had a chat within the last week,” Sermanni said of Vine. “She’s good, but she’s just not available for these upcoming games.”
Sermanni’s Future Remains Unknown
As for his own future in the role, Sermanni was unable to provide any clarity on how long he would remain at the helm of the Matildas. “There’s no set time on it, you might have to put up with me for some time to come,” the Scot quipped to reporters.
Exciting Series of Matches on the Horizon
The Matildas kick off their series of friendlies against Brazil in Brisbane on November 28, before another clash with the South Americans three days later on the Gold Coast. The Australians then face Taiwan in Melbourne and Geelong in early December.
While the wait for Kerr’s highly-anticipated return goes on, fans can still look forward to seeing the Matildas’ incredible depth of talent on display as they build towards a massive few years featuring the 2023 World Cup on home soil and the 2024 Olympics in Paris. With or without their talismanic striker, this Matildas generation has the potential to achieve something truly special.
