Matildas won’t rush Kerr update, defend Simon selection

Anna Harrington | July 26, 2023

The Matildas will make a last-minute call on skipper Sam Kerr, giving their  inspirational skipper every chance of playing against Canada in their final group match.

Tony Gustavsson says he will make a final decision on Kerr one day before the July 31 fixture, with the Matildas coach also defending the selection of injured striker Kyah Simon.

A week on from injuring her left calf, Kerr walked laps on Wednesday, the most activity she has carried out in public since the injury ruled her out of the opening two games against Ireland and Nigeria.

Kerr will be reassessed after Thursday’s game but given the tight, four-day turnaround to the Canada clash in Melbourne she appears unlikely to play.

Gustavsson dodged answering whether Kerr’s tournament was over – something the star forward and her teammates have denied.

“We have an evaluation of Sam between the Nigeria and the Canada game and most likely, just a heads-up now in advance, most likely we won’t be able to give an answer on that until the day before the game,” Gustavsson said.

“Because we want to wait until the last minute to see where she’s at in terms of availability.”

FA have been cagey with updates on Kerr but Gustavsson insisted it was for his players’ benefit.

“We’ve been as open as we can be to say it’s a calf injury that’s going to be reassessed after the Nigeria game,” he said.

“Me, personally, I don’t know more than that as of now. 

“I just focus on the players that I have available for tomorrow and I know that’s all Sam wants as well.”

Mary Fowler (concussion) will also miss the Nigeria clash, which has only increased scrutiny on the gamble to carry Simon through the group stage with a view to using her off the bench as an impact substitute later.

Simon hasn’t played since rupturing her left anterior cruciate ligament in October.

“I’m never going to regret picking Kyah,” Gustavsson said. 

“I picked her for different reasons. One was we knew she was going to have limited minutes but her game changer quality was what we picked her for and what she showed in training the last couple of weeks before selection was amazing.

“We knew it was a risk but you never knew what it was going to be like.

“The other thing is what she contributes to the group in the locker room and off the pitch with her experience and her personality, but also coming in big pressure moments. 

“Like for example extra time or PK shootout where she’s come up big in big games before. 

“Never going to regret that. She still contributes to us.”