Matildas captain Sam Kerr has been labelled the ‘best in the business’ by Chelsea manager Emma Hayes after the Australian striker scored a milestone 50th Women’s Super League goal.
Kerr’s strike sealed a 3-0 win away at Aston Villa which put Chelsea one point behind leaders Manchester United – but with a game in hand –
The Australian reached the 50-goal marker in just 62 appearances for the Blues, the second-fastest to reach the milestone behind Arsenal icon Vivianne Miedema (50 games).
This season, 29-year-old Kerr has an impressive 19 goals in 28 matches across all competitions.
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Chelsea coach Emma Hayes was full of praise for Kerr, telling Sky Sports that the Australian means: “Everything to this team – because we can count on her.
“She’s been fit and available, our only out-and-out striker this half of the season.
“It’s been challenging for us but, with someone like Sam, she not only makes a difference on the pitch, she makes it off the field too.”
Hayes later added in an interview with club media: “Best in the business, as far as I’m concerned, the best number nine there is. She showed again her importance to the team.
“She’s been invaluable. We’ve been able to count on her game in, game out.”
Norwegian international Guro Reiten was similarly strong in her praise for Kerr, telling Sky Sports: “You talk about her goals but Sam means so much to this team, the work she puts in every single day and the person that she is. Then, obviously when we need her, she steps up and scores.
“That toe-poke she’s been talking about for weeks, so she was so happy scoring one of those.”
FOORD SUFFERS HAMSTRING INJURY
There was less joy for fellow Matildas attacker Caitlin Foord, who limped off the field just 36 minutes into Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Manchester City.
Foord had been set to join the Matildas’ squad this week for Friday night’s clash with Scotland (10.15pm AEST) and next Wednesday’s huge clash with world number four England (4.45am AEST).
But her hamstring injury is a major blow to Tony Gustavsson’s preparations for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup in July-August down under.
The 28-year-old attacker has been on a red-hot run of form, with 10 goals for Arsenal this season (all competitions), and two goals in as many matches for Australia in February’s Cup of Nations.
Foord is not the only international veteran that Matildas coach Gustavsson will be sweating over. Arsenal teammate Steph Catley will miss this fortnight’s friendlies with a foot injury, as will Emily Gielnik of Aston Villa.
Alanna Kennedy has been included in the squad, but the Manchester City centre-back is short of form and fitness and didn’t make the bench for the Arsenal clash.
Kennedy has battled a series of injuries in the last 12 months: a broken nose last April against New Zealand, a hamstring injury in September against Canada, a shoulder fracture later that month, and a calf injury on international duty again in February.
She has made just six appearances in all competitions, with none coming since that February injury.
Her fellow Australians at Manchester City, Hayley Raso and Mary Fowler, both came on in the final ten minutes of the Arsenal clash.
There are, however, two key players returning from injury for the Matildas squad – Lyon’s Ellie Carpenter and Melbourne City’s Holly McNamara, who both suffered ACL injuries early last year (May and February respectively).