Sam Kerr is adamant she's still not quite back to her matchless best, despite the typically sharp hat-trick that illuminated Chelsea's Women's Champions League victory over Paris FC.
"I'm pretty close - but I'm not there yet," warned Kerr after her treble in Chelsea's 4-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
She was left agreeing with Chelsea boss Emma Hayes' verdict that she's still playing at only "80 per cent" of her capabilities after a frustrating, injury-dotted spell that stretches back to her chequered World Cup back home.
But even Hayes was left smiling that "if that's her 80 per cent, I'll take it" after Kerr produced a striking masterclass, topped off by a brilliant, instinctive lob that outfoxed a retreating Paris goalie Chiamaka Nnadozie.
⚡️🇦🇺 Sam Kerr leads the race to be #UWCLTopScorer with four goals, plus a selection of those on her coat-tail#UWCL pic.twitter.com/lWe4Q1T249
— UEFA Women's Champions League (@UWCL) November 24, 2023
Kerr felt the goal was indicative of her "getting back really close to 100 per cent."
"I just need more consistency, more training and more games. This last block of games has been difficult because you don't train that often."
On the eve of the match, Kerr, who has had a months-long struggle with injuries to both her calves that hampered her World Cup ambitions, admitted: "I've never really since I've been at Chelsea dealt with a little bit of an injury or a niggle, so it's been quite frustrating to be honest.
"But I definitely feel like I'm on the up now.
"It's been a real positive for me that although I haven't been in my fittest, and maybe not at my top level, that I've still scored a few goals because I think as a striker when you're not in the groove, I guess you can lose a little bit of that confidence.
"In the next two to three weeks, I'll hopefully be back at my fittest."
Kerr, who also scored her second Women's Super League goal of the season against Liverpool last weekend, will be back in action on Sunday (Monday AEDT) as the champions and league leaders, after their night out at the club's main stadium, return to their usual Kingsmeadow base to host Leicester City.
