Sam Kerr off her feet but appears set for Matildas return against Denmark
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Sam Kerr was back on the exercise bike the day before Australia’s knockout clash with Denmark but still appears on track to make her first World Cup appearance on Monday night.
A day after the Matildas skipper and striker said she “will play” in the round of 16 at Sydney’s Stadium Australia, she had what team officials described as an “off feet day” at training.
Kerr, media was told, has been alternating between an “on feet day” and “off feet day” as she recovers from the calf injury that stopped her playing the entire group stage.
On Saturday she posted photos on Instagram of herself at a closed training session, running in a bib which indicated she may have been a part of the team’s match day minus two hit-out, though it seems doubtful she would have participated in anything too intense given Mary Fowler and Aivi Luik were both concussed in a similar intra-team match before Australia’s group-stage loss to Nigeria.
Sam Kerr on the exercise bike at Matildas training in Sydney on Sunday.Credit: Getty
And on Sunday, at the Western Sydney Wanderers’ training base in Rooty Hill, she rode on the stationary bike for the 15 minutes opened to the media but appeared in good spirits as the Steps’ song 5, 6, 7, 8 played pitchside.
Kerr had declared herself available for the last match, but did not even warm up before the Matildas’ 4-0 rout of Canada that sealed their spot at the top of Group B.
It is representative of coach Tony Gustavsson’s cagey approach in terms of what information he allows into the public realm – and the opponents’ ears.
But it does, based on the action of the past few days, seem that she might just make a long-awaited return against the world No.13 Danes.
The rest of the squad warms up.Credit: Getty
What that will look like is unclear, though most likely will not be more than a short spell off the bench.
As the Matildas touched down in Sydney on Saturday, Kerr was doorstopped by Channel Nine en route to a waiting bus and was asked if she would play the must-win clash.
“I’m really excited,” she said with a hint of sarcasm as she hurried past. “I will play.”
The rest of the team were in a jovial mood on Sunday, too, laughing and joking through the warm-up run and drills with the ball.
Kyah Simon also did the most – in public at least – she has since the start of the tournament, kicking with a member of the coaching staff.
The forward tore her ACL last October and has been the subject of criticism towards Gustavsson, who selected her in his final 23-player squad based on what she might be able to contribute in the knockout stages – especially when penalty shootouts come into the mix.
The only other players aside from Kerr not on the field were winger Cortnee Vine and back-up goalkeeper Teegan Micah, with team officials citing load management.
Gutavsson will address media in his pre-match press conference later on Sunday alongside forward Caitlin Foord.
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