Chelsea’s striker, Sam Kerr, is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered during the club’s warm weather training camp in Morocco.
Chelsea has stated that she will undergo assessment by a specialist in the coming days, followed by the commencement of her rehabilitation.
The 30-year-old captain of the Australian national team, since joining Chelsea in 2019, has remarkably scored 99 goals in 128 matches. Currently, the Blues lead the Women’s Super League by three points over Manchester City.
During her tenure with Chelsea, Kerr has clinched four WSL titles, three FA Cups, two Women’s League Cups, and the Women’s Community Shield.
She has also secured the Golden Boot twice and was the runner-up to Spain’s Aitana Bonmati at the Ballon d’Or awards last year.
This season, she has scored four goals in eight WSL games for the Blues and has excelled in the Champions League, scoring five goals in four matches.
The Blues said: “Everyone at Chelsea would like to wish Sam the very best for her recovery.”
Kerr, who missed part of last summer’s World Cup with a calf injury sustained in training, had just recovered from a foot injury which kept her out of her country’s friendly internationals against Canada last month.
As well as the remainder of Chelsea’s season, she will also miss Australia’s Olympic qualifiers against Uzbekistan next month and would also be out of this summer’s Paris Games, if they qualify.
“Considering how hard Sam has worked over the past six months to return to play, this news is a devastating blow for everyone,” said Australia coach Tony Gustavsson.
“With her ability to lead by example, Sam’s guidance and influence on the team is significant and, as a result, this will be an incredible loss for the national team.
“Our focus now is on ensuring she has all the support she wants and needs to navigate recovery and rehab.”
She adds her name to the extensive roster of women’s players who have experienced comparable injuries, with the likes of England’s Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, Netherlands’ Vivianne Miedema, and Canada’s Janine Beckie all absent from the World Cup due to similar setbacks.