Sam Kerr is on the verge of making her long-awaited return to competitive football after being named in Chelsea’s squad for their Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City. This could set up a showdown with Matildas teammate Mary Fowler, who plays for City. Kerr, who suffered an ACL rupture in January 2024, has been sidelined for over a year, with Chelsea carefully managing her recovery.
Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor has urged caution regarding Kerr’s comeback, emphasizing that expectations should be tempered. While Kerr has returned to training, Bompastor stressed that she needs time to regain full match fitness. The decision to include Kerr in the squad came at the expense of Mia Fishel, highlighting the club’s confidence in her progress. If she doesn’t feature in the first leg, she could still play in the second.
Kerr and Fowler’s clubs are set to clash multiple times in the coming weeks, including in the League Cup final and FA Cup quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Kerr’s return is expected to bolster the Matildas ahead of their April matches against South Korea. However, her comeback raises questions about whether she will reclaim the captaincy from Steph Catley, who has led the team in her absence.
