After nearly a year of waiting for news, we finally have some idea of when we'll see Matildas striker and all-time leading Australian international scorer Sam Kerr back on the pitch.
Chelsea coach (Kerr's WSL club team) Sonia Bompastor has said we'll get some glimpses of her back in games around February and March of 2025. About 13-14 months following the onset of her injury.
“I would say Sam we are looking to maybe have back with us February, March, not before that,” Sona Bompastor said.
“She didn’t start yet to train, even being modified with the group, so she’s still on her individual process rehab and I think it will take at least two or three more months for her to be fit enough to be with the squad.”
When the news that Sam Kerr has ruptured her ACL during a training camp in Morocco reached Australia, you could almost feel the entire country collectively groan.
Following possibly the most exciting Womens FIFA World Cup we've ever seen, Australia had its eye firmly set on the 2024 Olympics – and our golden Matildas who seemed primed for a medal. Then, we were hit with devastating news that the best striker in the world (imo) would no longer be able to play.
Since that time, football fans everywhere have been waiting to hear when Kerr would be medically cleared to get back on the field for Australia - and also for her WSL club team, Chelsea.
ACL tears are a 12-month injury - others who come back earlier are just lucky
Many of us (me) held faint glimpses of hope that Kerr could potentially make an appearance at the Paris Olympics, citing that some players recover from ACL tears in just six months. The Matildas' Ellie Carpenter recovered from hers in just nine months, managing to make it onto the 2023 FIFA World Cup squad.
But Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni has confirmed that Sam's injury is not a small one.
“Things are getting a little bit better in rehab, but in reality it’s still probably a 12-month injury, and Sam’s taking that time to come back to ensure that hopefully, when she comes back, she’s going to be completely fit and healthy," Sermanni said.
He also said: “Her rehab is going really, really, really well.”
The sentiment was echoed by Tameka Yallop, following the friendly match against Chinese Taipei aka Taiwan on 7 December.
“Everyone feels for Sam and we are all right there supporting her with her recovery and it’s important for her to be 100 percent before she comes back,” she said.
“We want her for the long-term, not the short-term," she added. “We are supporting her through it, and she remains a major part of the team.”
Once she is finally back and playing again, fans will have plenty of opportunities to watch her in action, with no sign of an early retirement. Kerr resigned to her WSL club Chelsea earlier this year, committing to play with them until June-August 2026. With any luck we'll get to see her in action during the 2026 Asian Cup, which will be hosted in cities across Australia.
In more Sam Kerr news, the star striker recently announced that she and partner Kristy Mewis are expecting their first baby. Kristy, who was a star of the NWSL's Gotham FC, made the move to the WSL to play for West Ham in 2024.
For more Matildas, head to our guide on the next Matildas' games and where to watch.
