The latest on Sam Kerr? She’s laughing

Sam Kerr-watch is up and running in Brisbane. Prediction: she will play at the World Cup.

Steph Catley and Sam Kerr are all smiles at Matildas training in Brisbane. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Sam Kerr’s smiling. She’s chuckling. She’s chortling. She’s walking. She just sneezed. Bless you. She’s not limping. She’s signing autographs. She’s helping pack the gear. She’s sitting on an Esky. She doesn’t have a bandage on her leg and doesn’t appear to have sorrow in her heart. She actually looks in the highest of spirits in Brisbane and here’s a prediction once you see her in the flesh – she’ll play at the World Cup.

This isn’t an athlete in dire need of crutches and a month off. She’ll remain in cotton wool until the Matildas arrive in Melbourne for next Monday’s final group match against Canada. Ideally, she will play against the Olympic champions because victory will give the Australians a higher seed and easier path through the knockout phase.

A lucky fan gets a high five from Sam Kerr before Matildas training in Brisbane on Sunday morning. Picture: Lachie Millard

But the real focus and more achievable timeline has become Australia’s first sudden-death assignment on August 7 against either England, Denmark or China. By then, nearly three weeks will have passed since she injured her calf and began this whole Kerr-fuffle.

She joined stand-in skipper Steph Catley – O Captain! My Captain! – for a meet-and-greet session on Sunday with Under-12 and Under-15s players from the local Mt Gravatt Hawks, all of whom looked suitably chuffed.

Kerr is a bit of an open book as a human and if she was feeling gloomy and preparing to sit on the team’s Esky – a pretty flash one, to be honest – for the entire World Cup, it would have been written all over her face. That wasn’t the case.

If Kerr is to return for the business end of the tournament, immense pressure is on the side to get that far. Which makes Thursday night’s match against Nigeria a tense occasion. A win to the Matildas will ensure passage to the knockouts and give Kerr some breathing space. And yet the Nigerians, who drew with Canada, are more dangerous than previously thought. A draw or loss will be disastrous for the Matildas, perhaps forcing Kerr to return too soon against Canada – O Canada! – and potentially worsening her injury.

“She’s such a positive person and has a great outlook on things,” Matildas defender Charlie Grant said. “She’s told us to focus on the games and not worry about her. Everyone’s adapted really well and I think that’s credit to her. She’s been a great leader to us. Even though she’s not on the pitch, she’s still being a great leader.”