Sam Kerr begins running in Spain and now joins Matildas in Perth

News.com.au

5 hours ago

Sam Kerr won't be playing for the Matildas over the next two weeks but has linked up with her teammates in Perth as an injury lay-off that has hit 18 months edges closer to an end.
Kerr dropped social media pics of her running during a trip to Mallorca in Spain and followed that up with another pic at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in Perth where her national teammates are preparing for games against Slovenia and Panama.
The 31-year-old hasn't played since injuring her ACL in a training camp with club side Chelsea in January 2024.
New Matildas coach Joe Montemurro recently revealed that the Matildas captain needed a second round of surgery, which stretched her recovery way beyond the normal period.
But while she is doing most of her rehabilitation with Chelsea, Kerr has been allowed to link up with the Matildas who will play their first game under the new coach on Thursday night.
She's set to take part in some individual sessions and do some training with her teammates as part of a plan being co-ordinated in collaboration with Chelsea.
When Kerr wasn't named in Montemurro's 33-player squad for the four games in Western Australia, the new coach said he'd been talking to his skipper and things were moving in a 'positive way'.
'We're monitoring that on a day-to-day, week-to-week scenario. She's on track and we're working closely with Chelsea to make sure she's ready for the season going in from there,' he said.
'Everything's pointing in a positive way and going in the direction we feel that's right.'
Recently married Matildas star Ellie Carpenter said it was exciting times for the team with a new coach leading into next year's Asian Cup, which is being held in Australia.
'You could tell by today's first session that everyone's fresh, everyone's excited,' she said in Perth.
'Everyone wants to put their best foot forward. That creates a challenging environment, very competitive environment and I think that's what we need.'
'I think Joe's very experienced internationally, he's coached at some big clubs, he knows what it takes to be the best footballers, to train them, to also beat top teams.
'And I think bringing his style here to the national team, keeping the ball, playing possession-based football is really going to bring the best out of our team, and it's what we need leading into the Asian Cup.'
The Matildas will open their Asian Cup campaign in Perth on March 1 next year.