By Nick Wright
Returning Matildas coach Tom Sermanni will seek out Australian superstar Sam Kerr this week before determining whether she will be available to join the national squad for the rest of 2024.
Kerr has not been sighted on the pitch since January, after suffering an ACL injury while with English giants Chelsea, costing her a Paris Olympics bid.
With the Matildas to host Brazil at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on November 28 and on the Gold Coast on December 1 in back-to-back friendlies, it would be a tight timeline for Kerr, as such setbacks typically take nine to 12 months for recovery.
Sam Kerr has been sidelined with an ACL injury since January.Credit: Rick Rycroft
The Matildas will also play a friendly in Germany on October 29, for which Kerr could be available, pending the outcome of her recovery.
Sermanni, who has replaced the outgoing Tony Gustavsson on an interim basis, said he would refrain from making “wholesale changes” to the team, which suffered a shock pool stage exit at the Paris Olympics.
As for Kerr, he said the priority would be to ensure she returns in full flight, however long that may take, while casting an eye to the 2026 Asian Cup.
“I’ve got to speak to her this week, find out where she’s at with her injury recovery and the rehab, and then make a decision,” Sermanni said.
“The key thing for Sam is to get back healthy, and however much time that takes, she has to take that time.
“The team has come off a tournament where the results didn’t go as everybody had hoped, so it’s just bringing a bit of stability back now and getting the team to believe in themselves again.
“Really, this starting camp is the beginning of the preparation for the Asian Cup and that’s another important responsibility I have.”
Sermanni confirmed he would not seek to take over the role on a permanent basis, as he did in stints from 1994-1997 and 2005-2012, however he would remain in the job for “however long I’m needed”.
Tom Sermanni is back for a third stint as Matildas coach, this time on an interim basis.Credit: Getty Images
“The reality in any team is that change happens gradually. Yes, I would suggest over my period, depending on how long it is, there will be a degree of change, but the wholesale stuff is just not realistic.”
Football Australia CEO James Johnson said they were “not in a rush” to announce a full-time appointment, adamant the body was comfortable with Sermanni’s “safe pair of hands” until the right candidate emerged – either globally or domestically.
Matildas veteran Tameka Yallop said the playing group had faith FA shared the values they would want in their next coach.
“I think our best [coaches] have known our Australian football culture, and have allowed us to bring our never-say-die attitude,” Yallop said.
“The standards and attributes we’ve carried in the team for a long time, the coaches who have allowed us to continue that and then foster growth within the sport here have been our best coaches.”