Sam Kerr is in "a really good place" as she battles back towards a return to big-time soccer, according to her Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor.
But there's still no timeframe for the Matildas captain's eagerly awaited return to the game following her long-standing knee injury as Chelsea look to get their star striker back for their hunt to win a unique 'quadruple' of four trophies.
Bompastor was quizzed on Friday about how her Australian star had been faring since getting back to training after being found not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment.
"She's in a good place. Naomi (Girma), Mia (Fishel) and Sam were all practising this two last weeks, and I think they did well," said Bompastor on Friday, talking of Kerr and Chelsea's two US internationals who have also been sidelined with injury.
"Sam is progressing really well and she's returning back to her level, but it's always difficult to put a timeframe on her return.
"But, actually, I'm really happy with what I saw the last two weeks, and I think she's in a really good place."
Kerr hasn't played a match for nearly 15 months since December 2023 when she scored in a 3-1 defeat of Swedish team Hacken in the Champions League.
She suffered her ACL injury the following month during warm-weather training in Morocco in January last year, and though it's been a long absence, the 31-year-old Kerr has said she's determined to ensure she feels completely right before returning to action.
Meanwhile, Chelsea's world-record signing Girma should be included in their squad for the first time when they play their Women's Super League match against Brighton on Sunday.
The USA defender joined for Stg 900,000 ($A1.8 million) from San Diego Wave in January but has yet to make her debut as she recovers from a calf injury.
The 24-year-old was ruled out of the United States' matches for this month's SheBelieves Cup but has got back to fitness with Chelsea during the international break.
Like Kerr, USA forward Fishel hasn't played since she tore her ACL in February last year.
But Chelsea, unbeaten all season, will be keen to get their stars back as they face a hectic programme with soccer history beckoning.
They're seven points clear at the top of the WSL, and have a League Cup final, FA Cup quarter-final and Champions League quarter-final to come in March.
