They are saying per week is a very long time in soccer, by no means thoughts 99 of them.
Sam Kerr is aware of that each one too properly, as her 692-day wait to begin a match for Chelsea got here to an finish on Tuesday.
After scoring in her facet’s 3-1 Champions League victory in opposition to BK Hacken on 20 December 2023, Kerr’s profession was rocked by harm.
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An anterior cruciate ligament harm sustained throughout a warm-weather coaching camp in January 2024, adopted by a number of setbacks, stored her out of aggressive motion till September this yr.
After scoring twice in 9 substitute appearances this season, Kerr made probably the most of her first begin with two fantastically taken targets in
“It feels good. It felt like I needed to work myself into it however yeah, glad to attain,” Kerr informed Disney+.
“In fact, I want to play extra minutes. Once you come on for 20 minutes it’s kind of hectic, there’s a lot of subs and it may be a bit wishy-washy. I really feel like at this time was good.
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“I had a number of possibilities within the first half. I am simply glad to be again out right here enjoying within the Champions League once more, with a tremendous group. I am relishing each second.”
For some time it seemed prefer it simply would not be Kerr’s night time.
She could have began two friendlies for Australia final month however her sharpness continues to be coming again and, within the first half, missed three possibilities she could be anticipated to take.
Her wayward ending continued when she blazed over early within the second half, whereas her poorly timed run led to team-mate Naomi Girma’s first-half header being dominated out for offside.
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Then emerged the Kerr Europe’s defenders hoped they may not see once more.
An excellent first contact from Wieke Kaptein’s cross bought the ball out of her toes, earlier than a sweeping right-foot strike left goalkeeper Carina Schluter helpless.
For her second, Kerr dropped again off the defensive position into area, adjusted to satisfy the flight of Niamh Charles’ cross and planted a header excessive into the online.
“It feels a bit sweeter but it surely feels a bit bizarre,” Kerr mentioned on whether or not the sensation of scoring has modified after her harm.
“I did not rating for thus lengthy that I used to be like I have never celebrated, actually. I have never bought that celebration factor but. I’ve bought to attain a number of extra.”
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Subsequent Kerr will goal a primary WSL begin since 17 December 2023. With Aggie Beever-Jones lacking the final two video games with a lifeless leg, it might come in opposition to Liverpool on Sunday.
“I really feel 100% however I used to be out for some time, so I’ve to construct myself up,” Kerr mentioned.
“Right this moment was an excellent set, proper? Getting some good minutes within the nationwide group was an excellent set. I am undoubtedly match sufficient, it is nearly getting miles within the legs now. I am able to go.”
Bompastor ‘likes’ choice headache
Kerr wasn’t the one one making a comeback on Tuesday.
Lauren James made her first Chelsea look in 225 days after struggling an ankle harm throughout Euro 2025, whereas January signing Girma made the beginning XI for her first minutes of the season.
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“That is actually vital. That is virtually essential when you’ve all of your gamers out there from a high quality perspective, but in addition having depth and having the ability to rotate,” Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor informed Disney+.
“It was a extremely fast turnaround between the sport on Saturday and this one, so when you’ll be able to carry on some recent legs and high quality, it at all times helps quite a bit.”
With Beever-Jones and Guro Reiten set to return quickly from harm and parental go away respectively, Bompastor may very well be confronted with a variety headache. She would not thoughts.
“I prefer to have that downside, I believe it is at all times higher for the supervisor to have many choices and to must make selections,” she mentioned.
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“It is at all times troublesome as a result of the gamers are high-quality. However I’m snug and used to that, it’s a part of the job.”
[BBC]
Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are again for one more season of the Ladies’s Soccer Weekly podcast. New episodes drop each Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus discover interviews and additional content material from the Ladies’s Tremendous League and past on the