- Matildas captain is managing a knee complaint
- Two matches are vital ahead of 2026 Asian Cup
Matildas superstar Sam Kerr will ultimately have the final say on how heavily she features in her team’s next two games as they continue to build towards the Asian Cup on home soil next year.
It follows ongoing concerns over the captain’s knee injury.
The striker, 32, has been operating on a restricted training load since arriving in Australia for two internationals against New Zealand, her first games at home in two years.
Kerr only returned from a 20-month anterior cruciate ligament injury lay-off in September and missed Chelsea‘s last two games before flying out as part of her continual recovery.
‘She’s on a (revised) plan that we need to make sure we follow,’ Matildas coach Joe Montemurro said in Gosford, north of Sydney, on Thursday.
Montemurro claimed he had not yet determined whether Kerr would start against the Football Ferns in Friday’s sold-out clash, which looms as crucial to the team’s Asian Cup preparations.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr will have the final say on how heavily she features in her team’s two games against New Zealand as they build towards the Asian Cup next year
The striker, 32, has been operating on a restricted training load since arriving in Australia
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro said his main focus is two good team performances – firstly in Gosford and then Adelaide
His team will also tackle the Kiwis in Adelaide on December 2.
‘I haven’t even thought about the starting XI, I’ll be honest with you,’ Montemurro said.
‘We’ve got a few players that have just come off flights and are being managed.
‘But we will put out two very good teams over the next two weeks.’
A tight-lipped Montemurro responded ‘we’ll see’ on whether the plan to manage Kerr’s knee injury would involve reducing her minutes come Friday night.
The decision will be left in his skipper’s hands.
‘I always leave it up to the player,’ Montemurro said.
‘Every player knows their body better than anyone else and knows where they want to be.
‘It’s all going well, everything’s all going to plan, we just need to make sure what’s best for Sam. ‘We’ll just wait and see.’
Both Matildas games are live and exclusive on Paramount+.