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Sad Sam Kerr update overshadows big Matildas win in Clare Polkinghorne's farewell match

Kerr is expected to miss the next three months of football after suffering a setback in her recovery from knee surgery.

ben talintyre
Sports Reporter
·3-min read

Sam Kerr's return from injury has been further delayed after she suffered a devastating setback in her program to recover from knee surgery. The Aussie's club side Chelsea confirmed on Saturday (AEDT) that she is on a modified recovery program and is still nowhere near returning to full contact training almost twelve months on from her knee surgery.

The 31-year-old has been out of action in 2024, needing surgery to repair a ruptured ACL in her knee in January. The injury saw her miss the Matildas' entire Paris Olympics campaign and sadly she is still a fair way away from returning to the field.

Pictured left Sam Kerr and right Clare Pokinghorne
Sam Kerr will miss at least the next two to three months of football, with the news overshadowing Clare Pokinghorne's farewell game. Image: AAP

Recovery from ACL surgery for elite athletes is usually around 9 to 10 months. And several of Kerr’s Matildas teammates have returned from the same injury in that time frame, such as defender Ellie Carpenter.

But Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor dropped the news that Kerr is not even training with teammates yet and admitted her return will surpass the 12-month mark, which is incredibly rare for elite athletes. “I would say Sam we are looking to maybe have back with us February, March, not before that,” Bompastor said.

“She didn’t start yet to train, even being modified with the group, so she’s still on her individual process rehab and I think it will take at least two or three more months for her to be fit enough to be with the squad.” It means Kerr at best will return just weeks before the Women’s Super League season wraps up in May.

Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni recently said he expected Kerr to return to the Matildas squad in the next FIFA international window, where they will play Japan, the United States and Colombia in February. However, after the latest update that now appears to be highly unlikely.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 01: Sam Kerr of the Matildas celebrates her goal during the AFC Women's Asian Olympic Qualifier match between Australia Matildas and Chinese Taipei at HBF Park on November 01, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Sam Kerr has not played a match since she ruptured her ACL in January. Image: Getty

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The Kerr news overshadowed what was a solid win for the Matildas over Taiwan. The Australian side was on top from start to finish on Saturday night, with six different Matildas finding the back of the net on the night they said farewell to departing great Clare Polkinghorne in front of 30,097 fans at GMHBA Stadium.

With a plethora of big names unavailable, Sermanni made four changes to his team that beat Taiwan 3-1 earlier this week. Retiring great Polkinghorne - who had a celebration match against Brazil in Brisbane - started her record 169th and final game, while Bryleeh Henry and Davidson made their senior starting debuts.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 07: Clare Polkinghorne of Australia acknowledges the crowd after player her final match for the Matildas during the International Friendly Match between the Australia Matildas and Chinese Taipei at GMHBA Stadium on December 07, 2024 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Clare Polkinhorne was given a standing ovation as she left the pitch after playing her final game for the Matildas. Image: Getty

But the special moment many fans came to see came in the 64th minute when Polkinghorne departed the field for a final time to a standing ovation, replaced by Jessika Nash. She hugged Sermanni, who was also in charge when she made her debut in 2006, before heading to the bench. The Matildas will next play in February, where Sermanni is unlikely to be in charge, with a full-time coach expected to be appointed before the end of the year.