Matildas take on South Korea without Sam Kerr as mystery surrounds her return to football

It’s been more than 14 months since Sam Kerr injured her knee, but her failure to return for club side Chelsea is impacting her availability for the Matildas.

Matildas interim coach Tom Sermanni wants his players “performing at the level required” after naming his star-studded squad – again missing key striker Sam Kerr – for two home games against South Korea in the wake of the poor showing at the SheBelieves Cup in February.

Kerr – who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee in January last year – remains sidelined having failed to return for Chelsea in two fixtures in the past few days, but her team did topple fellow Matildas star Mary Fowler’s Manchester City on Monday morning (AEDT).

Fowler was included in the 23-player Matildas squad, with midfielder Clare Wheeler set to make a return to the squad after being absent for the last two international windows due to injury.

Young defenders Courtney Nevin and Jamilla Rankin have both earnt recalls off the back of their recent club form in Europe, with Steph Catley to again wear the captain’s armband.

Mary Fowler has been named in the Matildas squad. Picture: Oli Scarff / AFP

“Sam’s still making a comeback from her knee operation a year and a bit ago,” Sermanni said on Monday.

“She’s not been fully cleared yet by Chelsea. She’s on the mend and she’s not too far off.

“Her first priority is to get her on the field at Chelsea and then hopefully she’ll be available for selection for the Matildas.”

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor confirmed that Kerr would not play for the team leading up to the international break and was unavailable to play for the Matildas.

“We will assess her on a week-by-week basis, and hopefully, after the international break, we will have a clearer understanding of her return,” Bompastor said.

Australia’s clashes with South Korea in Newcastle (April 4) and Sydney (April 7) loom as crucial in preparation for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup after a failure against rivals Japan in the February tournament in the US.

Sam Kerr is yet to return for Chelsea. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

“This squad selection is about achieving the right balance – reintegrating players returning from injury and rewarding those who have been playing consistently well in clubland. It’s important to create continuity while also bringing in players who have earned their place through strong performances,” Sermanni said.

“We are fortunate to have a core group of players competing at the highest levels, whether it’s in the UEFA Women’s Champions League or major domestic competitions.

“Every match leading into the Asian Cup is an opportunity to finetune our approach, build cohesion, and ensure we are performing at the level required to take on Asia’s best during next year’s tournament.”

MATILDAS 23-PLAYER SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold, Chloe Lincoln, Teagan Micah

Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Steph Catley, Charlotte Grant, Winonah Heatley, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Courtney Nevin, Natasha Prior, Jamilla Rankin

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

Forwards: Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Michelle Heyman, Holly McNamara, Hayley Raso, Kaitlyn Torpey.

Originally published as Matildas take on South Korea without Sam Kerr as mystery surrounds her return to football