Matildas captain Sam Kerr was willing to risk her already damaged calf if her team needed her

The Matildas have bought injured skipper Sam Kerr valuable time in her bid to take part in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Sam Kerr (left) celebrates with her Matildas teammates after Australia's fourth goal against Canada. Picture: William West / AFP

Sam Kerr was willing to further damage her already injured calf if the Matildas needed her help to beat Canada and secure a FIFA Women’s World Cup round-of-16 berth.

However, all went to plan for the Matildas on a memorable night for Australian football, with star striker and captain Kerr watching the entire game from the bench as her side thrashed the surprisingly poor Canadians to not only reach the tournament’s knockout stages but also claim top spot in Group B.

Kerr had said two days before the match that she was “available” for selection after missing Australia’s games against Ireland and Nigeria due to the calf injury she suffered on the eve of the tournament.

However, signs were obvious before Monday night’s match in Melbourne that Kerr – who had been named among the substitutes – was still being kept in cotton wool as she took no part in the team warm-up.

And with the Matildas comfortably leading 2-0 at halftime, Kerr also didn’t kick the ball around with the other substitutes during the break between halves.

Sam Kerr watches from the bench in Australia’s win over Canada. Picture: William West / AFP

“I was informed (by medical staff) that she’s available but for limited minutes,” Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said.

“We agreed together that if we can win us (another) week for her to not risk her to reinjure herself, we’re going to try to protect her and try to win without her. That was always the aim.

“If we would have been in a situation where we would have needed her, she was willing to take that risk and come on.

“We didn’t, and we’re all happy about that.”

Gustavsson said Kerr had been “clear” to not let it “get to that point”.

“(Kerr told the team) ‘make sure you win without me, so I can get another week to train and recover and get healthy’,” he said.

“The team responded and said ‘yes we will, you sit on the bench tonight and we’ll win for you’.”

The Matildas now don’t play until next Monday night against the Group D runners-up – who will be determined on Tuesday night when England plays China, and Denmark meets Haiti – at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.

The August 7 clash will come 19 days after Kerr injured her calf.

Socceroos great Robbie Slater said depending on the injury’s severity, which has not been disclosed, it could be enough time for Kerr to declare herself fully fit.

“If it’s a minor strain, she should be fine by then,” Slater said.

“It’ll be almost three weeks and that’s about the recovery timeframe.”

However, regardless of how fit Kerr is, Slater would be shocked if she started in the round-of-16 battle.

“Going on what happened (against Canada), I’d be very surprised if she started,” he said.

“I think she’ll be on the bench again. He (Gustavsson) has shown his hand.”