Matildas captain Sam Kerr had a ball at her feet and looks set for her long-awaited return in Monday’s must-win World Cup clash with Denmark after smiling her way through training on Thursday.
Music was blaring from the speakers at the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre as the Matildas warmed up for their session listening to Shania Twain’s hit Man! I Feel Like A Woman.
“It was a banger – that was a good choice,” Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold said.
The Matildas took to the field in Brisbane for the team’s first training session since their stunning demolition of Canada that ensured progressing out of the group stages.
Arnold confirmed that Kerr, who is yet to play in the World Cup due to a calf injury, took part in the session and had her own training program as she continued her bid to play against the Danes.
“She has her own individual plan that she’s doing with the doctor and physio, getting her ready to join in with the team,’ Arnold said of the Matildas captain.
“What she had to do, she looked like she was quite comfortable doing it, and she was in high spirits after the (session), so I assumed it all went well.”
Midfielder Katrina Gorry, who was in a moon boot on Tuesday after injuring her ankle and football in Australia’s 4-0 thrashing of Canada, didn’t seem to be in any discomfort while warming up with the rest of the squad.
Coach Tony Gustavsson was able to leave Kerr on the bench in the 4-0 win, giving the superstar striker an extra seven days to get over her troublesome calf injury.
While Kerr, or the players, didn’t do much in the 15 minutes available for media to watch, she looked happy and was laughing in a positive sign she’s ready to get her first crack at this year’s World Cup.
Kyah Simon, who is recovering from an ACL and wasn’t set to play until the back-end of the tournament, was the only absentee from training.
Heavier training hit-outs are planned for Friday and then in Sydney on Saturday, which will be held entirely behind closed doors with the hope the Matildas don’t lose two players to injury as they did before as loss to Nigeria.
Kerr was named in the match-day squad for the clash with Canada last Monday but never warmed up with the team before the match and wasn’t needed to play.
But there’s a growing expectation she will play minutes in the knockout clash with Denmark, which will come 19 days after she hurt her calf at training on the eve of the Matildas’ opening game.