The captain of Matildas injured Sam Kerr remains a proposal for “camp by camp” and could still seek to finish the pre-season with Chelsea before returning to the international fray.
The acting boss Tom Sermanni also gave the new coach expected Joe Montemurro an approval that sounds when he is preparing for what is probably his last two games at the helm.
Kerr has not played at any level since his break in a Chelsea training camp in January 2024.
It was called in the Matildas camp in March and April as a training, but was not selected for the next friendly matches against Argentina in Melbourne and Canberra.
“Sam is fairly well followed, but it is not entirely ready to come and play,” said Sermanni.
“From our situation, it’s a camp camp by camp.
The captain of Matildas injured Sam Kerr remains a proposal for a camp by camp ” while continuing her recovery from an LCA injury (photo, with partner Kristie Mewis and her son Jagger)
Kerr was injured in the knee in a training camp with Chelsea in January 2024 – and has not played a game since
“Obviously, for Chelsea, now they are at the end of their season, so now they will look at his return and ready for the pre-season.”
Kerr’s partner, the American international Kristie Mewis, recently gave birth to the couple’s first child, his son Jagger.
Sermanni said he and Kerr were “ constantly in communication ” while the Matildas had a physiotherapist in London making “a significant amount of work” with the attacker, in collaboration with Chelsea.
With the Blues national season, Kerr could come back to play via the Matildas.
But more probably, she will return to a complete pre-season training with her club to build her charges first.
“This is one of the scenarios, and probably not a bad thing. I think it will depend on Sam and Chelsea, “said Sermanni.
“It could therefore be that Chelsea says, well, if – and I say so – that Sam feels that she is ready, and they feel that she is ready to come back for our next window, that they think:” Well, it would be good for you to come and get a playing time. It could happen.
“ If, on the other hand, they say, look, we just want it to take this time now, do its preparation really well done, so it happens at the beginning of the pre-season, it is ready to leave.
“I would say it’s probably a more likely scenario. “But again, this is something that I cannot answer specifically.”
Kerr was a popular figure with Matildas fans in Sydney last month (photo, in Leichhardt Oval)
Sermanni will take care of this camp, but the boss of Lyon Montemurro should officially sign the new coach.
“Joe would do fantastic in work,” said Sermanni.
“He knows the players intimately. It is trained at the highest level for a very long time. And he achieved success.
“There will be no problem with Joe who will arrive very well at work.
The stars of Arsenal Caitlin Foord, Steph Catley and Kyra Cooney-Cross should fly to Melbourne after the final of the Champions League on Saturday against Barcelona in Lisbon.
Ellie Carpenter and Katrina Gorry lack personal leave while Mackenzie Arnold (Lowerg), Tameka Yallop (hamstrings) and Hayley Raso (Quad) are also sidelined.
The dynamo of the central coast Isabel Gomez was called, while the Calgary Wild FC Kahlon Johnson striker could also make his debut.
Holly McNamara has been named and should be in good shape after a concussion and a broken nose playing for Melbourne City.
Building midfielder Amy Sayer returns for his first camp since his LCA tear last May.