Sam Kerr Remains Sidelined Ahead of Matildas' Korea Fixtures

Sam Kerr's anticipated return to the Matildas has been postponed as she continues to recover from her knee injury, which has kept her sidelined for over a year. Despite being named in Chelsea's squad for the Champions League, she did not participate in the first leg against Manchester City and will miss the second leg and upcoming league matches. Interim coach Tom Sermanni has expressed the need for the Matildas to perform better following a lackluster showing in recent tournaments. Kerr was expected to return for friendly matches against South Korea on April 4 and April 7, but her absence raises concerns about her availability leading up to the Asian Cup in 2026. Chelsea's manager has indicated they will evaluate Kerr's condition week by week, leaving her future in competitive play uncertain. Meanwhile, Football Australia is yet to secure a full-time coach and has not scheduled additional matches beyond the South Korea series.