Sam Kerr makes welcome Chelsea return but old favourite won't be coming back
Sam Kerr gave the strongest indication yet that she is back to her best as she bagged five goals in three matches in the Matildas' quest for 2024 Olympics qualification, including a particularly impressive hat-trick against the Philippines.
The timing was impeccable with the hat-trick coming less than 24 hours before she was crowned Ballon d’Or Feminin runner-up to Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati. It marked Kerr’s third time in the award's top three and came after a season in which many questioned whether she had met her usual standards.
A return of 29 goals in 38 appearances for eventual FA Cup and WSL winners Chelsea could bring a below-par evaluation in some circles is testament to the ridiculous, maybe even precipitous reaction she has faced since moving to west London.
Sam Kerr celebrates scoring a goal against Taiwan (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images)Even so, examination of Kerr's last season often demands the caveat that the 30-year-old didn't perform at her usual best. The unspoken question hanging off the proviso is whether Kerr can and will return to that level.
The goal flurry over the international break was comforting in that regard, particularly after the 30-year-old suffered a calf injury on the eve of the summer’s Women’s World Cup. That reduced the striker’s highly-anticipated domination of on home soil to mostly media conjecture and over-eager camera pans to the Australia bench where Kerr, bundled in a enormous bespoke Matildas puffer, sat painfully unused until the quarter-finals.
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A scintillating solo goal of vintage fashion in the 3-1 semi-final loss to England offered a glimpse into what a World Cup Down Under featuring a fully fit Kerr might've been, though her uncharacteristic squandering of two gilt-edged chances showed that even she is fallible.
Her performances for Tony Gustavsson's side over the international break ignited excitable whispers that the Australian is back on track as Chelsea look to defend a fifth league title and find triumph in Europe.
Samantha Kerr celebrates a goal during the AFC Women's Asian Olympic Qualifier match between Australia Matildas and IR Iran (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images)But for those hoping that a return to form will also herald a return of the Australian’s iconic backflip celebration, Kerr has some disappointing news.
“I turned 30 a month ago. Those days are over,” the Blues star replied when asked why she hasn't been unleashing the back-flip during her recent goal-scoring exploits. Her last acrobatic celebration came at Wembley as she sealed the FA Cup victory against Manchester United.
Whether a replacement celebration will be implemented remains to be seen (with Australia, Kerr employed a mix of experimental revels from tongue-wagging dance moves, tame fist bumps and full-throated roars). But Kerr’s recently-found rhythm with the Matildas suggests WSL fans might not need to wait long to discover if she does choose to make a new celebration her calling card.
Sam Kerr celebrates scoring the winner at the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium with her iconic backflip (Photo by Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)A slow start to the Chelsea season has seen Kerr find the back of the net just once in four WSL matches, in a 2-0 victory over West Ham United, while supplying two assists.
Sunday’s clash with second-from-bottom Aston Villa could present an opportunity for Kerr to adjust those stats. Last season’s fifth-place finishers have struggled defensively and conceded the league’s joint-second most goals (10).
Villa will be bolstered in attack by the return of Kirsty Hanson from suspension, as well as the potential return of Kenza Dali from injury.
Carla Ward's side will arguably pose a more difficult challenge than Iran, Philippines and Taiwan, who sit 63rd, 44th and 38th respectively in FIFA's rankings.
Even so, a confident Kerr is a dangerous, self-sustaining proposition, backflip or not.
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