Injured Matildas captain Sam Kerr watches training from the bench as concerns grow that she will miss the entire group stage of the Women’s World Cup.
- Wounded captain saw Matildas train
- Kerr already ruled out for the next game
- Star hopes to be back for the Canada game
The Matildas have returned to the training ground in Brisbane, with injured captain Sam Kerr out, to begin preparations to face Nigeria.
Injured captain Sam Kerr has watched from the bench as the Matildas returned to training as they prepared to face Nigeria without their biggest star.
Kerr, who suffered a knock late in Australia’s 1-0 win over Ireland due to a calf strain sustained the day before, is already ruled out of Thursday night’s clash at Suncorp Stadium.
Training on Sunday, after the Matildas players had Saturday off, was effectively a ‘Kerr-watch’.
Kerr was walking normally, and without a compression wrap on his left calf, on Sunday while taking part in a matchup with local club Mt Gravatt Hawks under-12 and under-15 players before watching his teammates warm up.
Injured captain Sam Kerr has watched from the sidelines as the Matildas trained
Kerr is already ruled out of Thursday night’s game at Suncorp Stadium
The 29-year-old chatted with her teammates, then helped pack up some gear and sat on an esky to watch.
With Nigeria drawing 0-0 with Canada on Friday, Australia can seal progression to the round of 16 with a win on Thursday, moving them to six points in Pool B.
Kerr will be reassessed ahead of the July 31 clash with Canada, but with only four days between group stage matches, it seems likely that Kerr won’t take any chances, especially if Australia have already reached the qualifiers.
There is a full week off between the Canada game and the round of 16, which begin on August 7.
That is clearly a more favorable recovery timeline for Kerr.
Kerr is clearly racing the clock to participate in Matildas’ silver medal bid, though his teammates have indicated he will be available for the later stages of the tournament.
On Sunday, Tameka Yallop trained with the main group, but her left thigh was still very tied.
The midfielder hyperextended her left knee in the warm-up friendly against France.
The Australian superstar will be reassessed ahead of the July 31 clash with Canada.
Kyah Simon, who is on her way back from a knee reconstruction, is on her own program and did not join the rest of the team.
Alanna Kennedy was walking laps while her centre-back partner, Clare Hunt, wasn’t training.
Football Australia confirmed that both players’ charges were only being managed.
