Watch Matildas superstar Sam Kerr in the footage Aussie football fans have been dying to see for 18 months
It's the vision countless Matildas fans have been craving - captain Sam Kerr back running for the first time at training as she inches towards a return after 18 months out injured with an ACL injury.
Kerr, 31, won't play in two upcoming matches against Slovenia in Perth - plus a fixture against Panama on July 5 - but will remain in camp with new coach Joe Montemurro's squad.
Her actual return date to competitive football remains unknown, but both the Matildas and Chelsea would have been buoyed by the scenes this week at the Sam Kerr Football Centre in Western Australia.
Montemurro stressed patience is key with Kerr.
'It's fundamentally a situation where she's now building her physical capacity, and we'll monitor that,' he said on Wednesday.
'The important thing is, we are working with Chelsea to make sure she's right for pre-season.
'It is an individual sort of process, but it's great to have her around the group, and her energy is fantastic.'
It comes as Montemurro has less than nine months to get his squad into shape ahead of the Asian Cup on home soil.
Montemurro has put an emphasis on retention of the ball, breaking the lines and pressuring opponents when without the ball.
'It's exciting to have a new game plan, and just his passion is really exciting,' defender Charli Grant said.
'He wants (us) to be one of the best footballing teams in the world and that's what we're always striving to be.'
The Matildas will be without the likes of Kerr, Mary Fowler (knee) and Tameka Yallop (leg) for the upcoming fixtures, while Steph Catley, Caitlin Foord, Katrina Gorry and Cortnee Vine are all on personal leave.
It means players like Grant, normally stuck behind star fullbacks Catley and Elllie Carpenter in the pecking order, will receive more game time.
The Matildas kick-off against Slovenia at HBF Park on Thursday night from 9pm AEDT before taking on the same opponents on Sunday June 29, also in Perth, from 8pm AEDT.
On July 5 from 4:30pm AEDT, Panama await at the boutique JE Hands Memorial Park in Western Australia.
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