Matildas teammate makes stunning statement after 'really sad' news about Sam Kerr
Matildas star Amy Sayer has led the way for the Matildas having returned after 11 months out from an ACL injury to score a brace against Argentina, following news Sam Kerr has re-injured herself. Sayer had not played for her national side in 549 days after undergoing gruelling rehab to strengthen her leg after an ACL injury.
But the star returned in Canberra to play Argentina on Monday night and helped send interim coach Tom Sermanni off with a win having scored a double. In front of 25,125 fans at GIO Stadium, the 23-year-old was a star for the Matildas scoring both her goals in the first-half to help secure a 4-1 win.
Sayer admitted she was once doubting whether she would ever reach the same heights again that had her playing for the Matildas. But Sayer shut down any doubts over her star power with two excellent goals in an encouraging performance for the national side.
"I worked really hard to get to this point, and I think it showed on the field, the work that I put in and the time," she said after the game. "There was a point in my rehab where I didn't even think I'd be able to walk properly again. So, yeah, the biggest thing is just for me to be on the field, and anything extra is just a bonus."
Caitlin Foord and Amy Sayer combine late in the first half to regain the CommBank Matildas' lead 🎯#Matildas #AUSvARG pic.twitter.com/aSppkeM0kC
— CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 2, 2025
And Sayer's return could give Kerr a boost for when she returns from a similar injury. Kerr has not played football in more than 16 months after tearing her ACL during training for her club side Chelsea. The Matildas superstar has been undergoing her recovery and was a hope to line-up for Chelsea, before their record breaking Women's Super League season came to an end.
She was also a hope to join the Matildas squad for the clashes against Argentina. However, Kerr couldn't get to the field before the end of the season and will continue her recovery during Chelsea's pre-season. Kerr did shock fans when she made a surprise appearance at the Women's A-League final a couple of weeks ago, but more news has come out of her visit to Australia.
On Monday night ahead of the Matildas' clash against Argentina, it was revealed Kerr has suffered another minor injury during her recovery. Kerr unfortunately suffered a setback during her rehab and underwent a surgery on a separate injury, however reports suggest she is now back running.
"This is really sad news for Sam on a personal and professional level," commentator Andy Harper said on Channel 10. "The frustration of being injured is bad enough, a long-term injury is even worse...and then to have this late hiccup...is a significant mental hurdle she has to overcome."
New Matildas coach Joe Montemurro confirmed the setback, but claimed he has only just been briefed on the situation. "Look, I think there was some complications and I've only caught up with the scenario in the last 24 hours," he told Channel 10.
"There was a subsequent intervention, but I do believe she is now back running. I think it was something completely different (to the existing knee injury). I think the knee is fine. I think there was some other issues, but again I've only been briefed in the last 24 hours."
Bad news for Sam Kerr fans 😩All the #AUSvARG pre-match chat continues on Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/C9YyTX0ICM
— Paramount+ Australia (@ParamountPlusAU) June 2, 2025
Sermanni faced a difficult job to coach the Matildas while Football Australia searched for a new long-term coach with the likes of Mary Fowler and Kerr out injured. But after an uplifting win over Argentina, Sermanni feels he passes the team over with a little more confidence instilled among the playing group.
"I felt, when I came into squad, the confidence and the belief in the players, collectively and individually, was at a fairly low ebb," Sermanni said. "I think what's happened in that time is that we've been able to bring back a little bit more confidence in the squad. But also able to start to bring players who have been kind of on the outside of the squad into believing that they feel part of the squad - players like Amy."
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