“Injury scare for Sam Kerr.” It’s the dreaded headline that is enough to induce a cold sweat and send Australian football into a mild panic, with just 10 weeks remaining until the start of the Women’s World Cup.
Monday morning’s news that the striker was forced off after 32 minutes in Chelsea’s comfortable Women’s Super League win over Everton – and the vision of her lying on the turf, head in hands – was concerning given Australia will kick off their tournament in 73 days.
Fortunately, this time Kerr’s injury was not serious – nothing more than a bout of cramp brought on by an illness over the weekend – and Chelsea manager Emma Hayes was quick to play down fears over the Matildas captain’s fitness.
“Sam was sick last night,” Hayes said after the thumping 7-0 win at Kingsmeadow. “She decided to play but her calf was cramping up so we decided to take her out.”
Scrutiny of those members of the Matildas squad playing in Europe is intensifying by the week as the clock ticks towards the big kick-off against Ireland on 20 July in Sydney.
In particular, the spotlight is focused on Kerr, Australia’s talismanic leader, whose fitness and form is widely considered crucial to a successful World Cup campaign.
The WSL season is heading towards a conclusion and Kerr has four league games remaining for Chelsea, plus the FA Women’s Cup final against Manchester United to play, before a gruelling campaign – that has also included a run to the Champions League semi-finals – comes to an end on 27 May.
Kerr’s dream of reaching a European final was ended last week with defeat over two legs to Barcelona, but her side are still in the running for a domestic double and are four points behind leaders United, with two games in hand.
Kerr’s 10 WSL goals and four assists have been vital to Chelsea’s success this season and she will be expected to continue to contribute in the final tilt towards winning silverware.
Her contribution at the international level is just as important, but she is not the only Australian player whose fitness coach Tony Gustavsson is sweating on, with injury clouds hanging over a number of other key players.
Vice captain Steph Catley lasted just 16 minutes in Arsenal’s win over Leicester on Saturday after coming on as a substitute in the second half, only to be forced off amid concern over her groin/hamstring.
Catley’s clubmate Caitlin Foord has already been sidelined for a month with a hamstring problem. Both players have four WSL games remaining for Arsenal.
Manchester City’s Mary Fowler also missed out on weekend action over injury concerns, while another City player, Alana Kennedy, remains out but is likely to return before the end of the season.
Tottenham’s Kyah Simon is in a race against time to be fit as she recovers from an ACL injury, while Elise Kellond-Knight appears certain to miss the World Cup after rupturing her left achilles tendon during a Melbourne Victory training session in March.
Australia are not the only nation to have headaches over the fitness of key players as the road to the World Cup enters the final straight. European champions England have lost captain Leah Williamson, and Beth Mead appears likely to join her on the sidelines, while Lucy Bronze under went knee surgery last month and is racing to be fit.
The Netherlands’ record goal scorer Vivianne Miedema ruptured her ACL in December and has been already ruled out of the World Cup.
