Matildas: Sam Kerr to miss clashes with Canada
There were only four Matildas on hand for the first training session in Canada as captain Sam Kerr joined a growing injury list and will miss the year-ending clashes with the Olympic champions due to a foot injury.
Veteran Clare Polkinghorne was one of the quartet on hand in British Columbia and said the situation was “not ideal” but could help strengthen their depth.
She also dismissed a suggestion speculation over coach Tony Gustavsson’s future could be a distraction after he was linked to the Sweden men’s coaching role despite being under contract with the Matildas until the end of next year’s Paris Olympics.
“I don’t think it impacts us as a group,” Polkinghorne said.
“International footballers, you get that, whether you are a player or a coach, especially if you have had success , there’s always going to be someone who wants to take you elsewhere.
“As a group we are all just focused on getting to the Olympics and then preparing as well as we can.”
Kerr has been on a goalscoring tear for Chelsea in the UK, scoring four goals across the past two games, including one on Monday before being replaced in the 81st minute.
She also scored a hat-trick in last week’s 4-1 Champions League win over Paris FC.
But a foot injury has forced Kerr to be withdrawn from the final two internationals of 2023 which will be played across five days next week against the World number 10.
She joins Mackenzie Arnold (arm), Charlotte Grant (hamstring) and Holly McNamara (knee) on the sidelines and will remain at Chelsea WFC to receive treatment.
Kerr will be replaced by 20-year-old midfielder Sarah Hunter, who has earnt her first senior national team call-up.
Polkinghorne conceded it was a “double-edged sword” to have so many players unavailable.
“It’s not ideal to have injuries leading in to camp. It’s a bit of a challenge for us and hopefully those players can get the time they need to get right,” she said.
“It also gives other players the opportunity to come in and experience the national team environment and get some more minutes.
“It’s a double-edged sword but all part of football.”
A former Young Matildas FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup captain and Sydney FC premiership and championship player, Hunter plies her club trade with UEFA Women’s Champions League side Paris FC.
After a strong start to the French Division 1 Feminine season, Paris FC sits second in the league behind Ellie Carpenter’s Olympique Lyon.
The 20-year-old has been a key member of the under-23 women’s national team over the past two years and joins Amy Sayer and Charlize Rule as part of the cohort of strongly performing under-23 players to be rewarded with senior call ups.
Australia will take on the world number 10 on Friday, December 1 and then again in Vancouver on Tuesday, December 5 to end their 2023 campaign
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