Sam Kerr has revealed that she made herself feel ‘vulnerable’ before taking to the field for Australia for the first time in 725 days.
Australia head coach Joe Montemurro wasted no time in handing Kerr her first start for her country since returning from an ACL injury that kept her out of action for 20 months.
Kerr, who suffered the injury during a training camp with Chelsea in Morocco in January 2024, returned to action for the Blues in their 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on September 15th.
The 32-year-old marked her return with a milestone 100th goal for Chelsea. Kerr has yet to start for Chelsea since her return from injury, so the appearance against Australia marked her first appearance in a starting XI since the 2023-24 Women’s Super League season.
What did Sam Kerr say about her Australia return?
Australia posted quotes from Sam Kerr in the early hours of Monday morning about her return to the Matildas.
She said: “Normally, when I’m in this team, I’ve been playing a lot, and I’ve been feeling really confident. Coming off an injury, I needed the girls to lift me up and give me a bit of energy.
“So I just said that we all needed to get behind each other. I made myself a little bit vulnerable, because I think people are used to me being so confident and fit. But Saturday was new for me, so I needed a little bit extra.”
Kerr added that she felt emotional when walking out of the tunnel and singing the national anthem.
“It was good to just walk out with the girls and have a bit of fun and get back out there,” she said.
“Honestly, I was trying not to think too much, trying to just enjoy myself. It was really good to be out there, back singing the national anthem and just being back with the girls.
“When you’re walking out of the tunnel with the girls singing the national anthem, I think those are the moments where you look around and you feel grateful and a little bit emotional that you’re back.”
How did Kerr perform on her return?
Kerr nearly scored a goal on her return to action for Australia against Wales.
For Australia’s first goal she attempted to get on the end of Courtney Nevin’s free-kick. However, the 32-year-old just missed the ball, but her presence was enough of a distraction, that Nevin’s free-kick snuck in at the near post.
Wales levelled the score through Mared Griffiths, before Caitlin Foord came to the rescue with an 85th-minute winner.
Kerr was quiet for the majority of her return, but had some nice touches on the ball when she could get hold of it.
Before the game, Kerr said that she hoped to win back the captain’s armband for Australia.
The armband though was handed to Hayley Raso, to celebrate her 100th appearance for her nation.
