Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni reveals he wants injured striker Sam Kerr back in camp

Sam Kerr isn’t ready to take the pitch but interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni revealed he is trying to convince the captain to join the squad for their upcoming camp.

There is no set timeline for super striker Sam Kerr’s return to the pitch but interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni is trying to convince the captain to join the national team in their upcoming camp.

Sermanni officially announced his first team for the Matildas upcoming games with Switzerland and Germany later this month in Sydney on Friday morning.

Sermanni, stepping back into the top role while Football Australia looks to find a permanent replacement for Tony Gustavasson, has made just two changes to the 22-woman Olympic team - forced on him due to injury and unavailability - and brought Winonah Heatley back to round out the 23.

Sermanni has a longstanding relationship with Kerr, who is still recovering from her ACL tear in January. He was the coach who gave the 15-year-old Perth prodigy her national team debut back in 2009.

“I did have a good conversation with Sam, she’s still recovering from her injury and quite rightly taking time to recover, it is really important that she doesn’t try to cut corners and come back too quickly,” Sermanni said.

“I have spoken to her about coming into camp for these games we’ve got in Europe, we’re still having that conversation.

“What happens is some players will walk across hot coals to come into camp regardless of their condition, some who are injured often don’t like to be in the team environment, so we’re having that discussion at the moment.”

Cortnee Vine was not available for selection for the Matildas. Picture: Getty

While she obviously won’t be able to take the field, Sermanni said Kerr had plenty of other qualities to bring to a camp and a squad trying to pick themselves back up from a disappointing Olympics campaign.

“Her presence in the camp is great,” Sermanni said.

“It’s great for the players, it’s great for the staff, it’s always good to have someone of that calibre and someone who’s a really mature leader in the team. Having those players around camp is always a big bonus.”

Sermanni said Kerr seemed her usual “upbeat” self during their chats.

“There’s not a lot that gets Sam down,” he said.

“She knows what her body needs and what she needs to be fit.

“She’s in a really good place and looking forward to giving herself as much time as possible to come back and be fit and healthy to go in 2025.”

Winger Cortnee Vine has not been named in the squad.

Vine, who made the move from Sydney FC to NWSL side North Carolina Courage this season has played just three matches for her new side.

The club lists her as an “excused absence” on their availability reports.

It is the second time this year the speedy winger has missed a national team camp for “personal reasons” - after making herself unavailable for the Olympic qualifiers against Uzbekistan in February.

Daniela Galic has been called into the Matildas squad ahead of their international friendlies with Switzerland and Germany. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Sermanni said he had spoken to Vine.

“She just wants a little bit more time to settle into that environment and to make sure that when she comes back into the Matildas’ environment she’s fully ready and fully focussed to do so,” he said.

Goalkeeper Teagan Micah has been ruled out with an ankle injury that she has been nursing for several months.

Sermanni has called on 2023/24 A-League’s Women’s young player of the year Daniela Galic to replace Vine and Matildas U20s goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln.

Gaelic, who starred for Melbourne City last season - scoring seven goals in 22 matches - is in the midst of her first overseas professional contract.

The 18-year-old has already scored one goal from her first five games with Danish club FC Twente.

Lincoln plays for Western United in the A-League’s and played a vital role during the Young Matildas FIFA U20s Women’s World Cup campaign.

Sermanni has made a number of changes to his coaching staff with Young Matildas head coach Leah Blayney and A-Leagues’ coach Jean-Paul de Marigny joining as assistants.

Assistant coach Melissa Andreatta is on maternity leave.

Matildas will play Switzerland at 5am (AEDT) on October 26 and Germany at 4.10am (AEDT) on October 29.

FULL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Jada Whyman, Chloe Lincoln

Defenders: Steph Catley (Captain), Ellie Carpenter, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Hunt, Kaitlin Torpey, Courtney Nevin, Charli Grant, Winonah Heatley, Clare Polkinghorne

Midfielders: Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Clare Wheeler, Sharn Freier, Daniela Galic, Emily van Egmond, Tameka Yallop

Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Hayley Raso, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman

Originally published as Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni reveals he wants injured striker Sam Kerr back in camp