Injured skipper Sam Kerr has watched her fellow Matildas return to coaching, all of the whereas understanding she will be able to’t be a part of the looming conflict with Nigeria.
The Matilda’s star was a shock late scratching from Australia’s opening 1-0 win over Eire with a calf pressure suffered the day earlier than, is already dominated out of Thursday evening’s conflict at Suncorp Stadium.
Sunday’s coaching, after Matildas gamers had Saturday off, was successfully a “Kerr-watch”.
Kerr was strolling usually, and with no compression bandage on her left calf, on Sunday as she took half in a meet and greet with under-12 and under-15s gamers from native membership Mt Gravatt Hawks, earlier than watching on as her teammates warmed up.
The 29-year-old chatted away together with her teammates then helped pack up some gear and sat on an Esky to look at them.
As Nigeria drew 0-0 with Canada on Friday, Australia can seal development to the spherical of 16 with a win on Thursday, taking them to 6 factors in Group B.
Kerr might be reassessed forward of the July 31 conflict with Canada however as there’s solely 4 days between group video games, it seems seemingly Kerr wouldn’t be risked – particularly if Australia are already via to the knockouts.
Racing the clock
There’s a full week’s relaxation between the Canada recreation and the spherical of 16, which begins on August 7. That’s clearly a extra beneficial restoration timeline for Kerr.
Kerr is clearly racing the clock to be concerned within the Matildas’ tilt for silverware, although her teammates have indicated she might be obtainable for the later levels of the match.
On Sunday, Tameka Yallop educated with the principle group however nonetheless had heavy strapping on her left thigh.
The midfielder hyperextended her left knee within the warm-up pleasant match in opposition to France.
Kyah Simon, who’s on the comeback path from a knee reconstruction, is on her personal program and didn’t be part of the remainder of the crew.
Alanna Kennedy was strolling laps whereas fellow central defender Clare Hunt sat out coaching.
Soccer Australia confirmed each gamers’ hundreds had been simply being managed.
-AAP