Sam Kerr news devastates her biggest supporters

Matildas fans have been blindsided by a casual announcement from overseas that Sam Kerr has a tough road ahead.

Sam Kerr may still be three months away from returning to the field.

The Matildas captain has had a devastating setback in her program to recover from knee surgery, her club Chelsea confirmed on Saturday (AEDT).

The 31-year-old has been out of action in 2024, needing surgery to repair a ruptured ACL in her knee in January. The injury saw her miss the Matildas’ entire Paris Olympics campaign.

However, nobody could have prepared Chelsea and Aussie fans for the news that Kerr’s recovery will stretch to well over 12 months.

Recovery from ACL surgery for elite athletes typically does not extend beyond 12 months.

However, Chelsea coach Sonia Bompastor has dropped the news Kerr is not even training with teammates yet and remains on a modified recovery program.

“I would say Sam we are looking to maybe have back with us February, March, not before that,” the Chelsea boss said.

“She didn’t start yet to train, even being modified with the group, so she’s still on her individual process rehab and I think it will take at least two or three more months for her to be fit enough to be with the squad.”

It means Kerr will only return in time for the final few months before the Women’s Super League season wraps up in May.

Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni recently said he expected Kerr to return to the Matildas squad in the next FIFA international window — where they will play Japan, the United States and Colombia in February.

Kerr cryptically said on a BBC podcast in September that she had a “little bit more going on than an ACL”.

Sam Kerr will have time to support Kristie Mewis.

Sermanni said last month he had not been made aware of any other issues surrounding the return of his star striker.

“Her rehab is going really well,” Sermanni said, adding that ACL injuries typically take at least a full year to heal.

“Things are getting a little bit better in rehab, but in reality, it’s still probably a 12-month injury, and Sam’s taking that time to come back to ensure that hopefully, when she comes back, she’s going to be completely fit and healthy.”

Several of Kerr’s other Matildas teammates have returned from the same injury in a shorter 9-10 months time frame, like defender Ellie Carpenter.

But after missing the Olympics and with no major international tournament on the line Kerr is taking time to ensure her body is properly ready before making her comeback.

The silver lining to the sad injury update is that Kerr will have more time to support partner Kristie Mewis as the West Ham star carries the couple’s first child.

The pair announced their news in November with a cute Instagram post that had a simple caption: “Mewis-Kerr baby coming 2025.”

Their announcement was spoiled somewhat by a storm of ugly comments on social media that prompted the football club to hit out at “unacceptable and hateful homophobic comments”.

Kerr and Mewis announced their engagement last November, two months after rumours initially swirled about the move.

Matildas star Sam Kerr at Chelsea training with Kristie Mewis.

Sam Kerr celebrating a goal. Photo by IZHAR KHAN / AFP.

The pair kept it quiet, playing a game with fans as they refused to confirm the news until Mewis broke the couple’s silence on November 9 in an exclusive interview with People Magazine.

And a post confirmed the couple were engaged on September 1, 2023.

That was just under two weeks after the Matildas’ World Cup campaign ended in the 2-0 third-place playoff loss to Sweden.

Kerr and Mewis went public with their relationship in 2021 after the Tokyo Olympics and since then the power couple have regularly shared snaps together.

“We’re not private people,” Kerr told Gaffer.

“I like sharing my story. I like sharing who I am outside of football.”

Kerr added that it was important to her to be with someone who understood the demands of football, particularly when they play on the opposite sides of the world.

Mewis added: “I think just being out and being two girls in love, I think if we can change one or two people’s lives, and the way that they feel about each other and how comfortable they feel, then that means a lot to me.

“I love to share my relationship on social media.”

The pair won over fans at the World Cup, sharing a photo dump of their time together, as well as being snapped celebrating with a kiss.

Originally published as Sam Kerr news devastates her biggest supporters