Matildas captain Sam Kerr likely has ‘mild’ calf injury, experts say | OneFootball

Sam Kerr’s calf injury means her minutes are likely to be managed by Matildas medical staff for the duration of the month-long Women’s World Cup, according to physiotherapy and sports science experts.

The Matildas have announced the striker will miss the next match against Nigeria in a week, but may be available against Canada on 31 July.

Dr Lewis Ingram, a lecturer in physiotherapy at the University of South Australia, said her injury is likely to be considered in the mildest category.

“The fact that she’s not limping would be more suggestive of hopefully a grade one calf strain,” he said.

“Grade one we say 10% or less of the muscle fibres have been damaged, that’s typically around a 10- to 12-day recovery timeframe.

“So that’s kind of fitting with missing the first two matches of the tournament.”

Prof Evangelos Pappas, an expert in biomechanics from the University of Wollongong, said it is difficult to make specific assessments at this stage, given even the Matildas staff won’t have all the answers.

“It’s plausible that she can come back for the third match, but I think even they don’t know at this point,” he said.

“Hopefully she has started showing some signs of recovery.”

Dr Jaquelin Bousie, an assistant professor in physiotherapy at University of Canberra, agreed it was likely to be a “mild injury” based on the stated timeframes, but that even so she would need to be eased back into action.

“As both the clinician and a researcher, you know full well that her initial games back, she will be managed time-wise because you’re not going to throw her on for 90 minutes,” she said.

Australia play Canada in their third group match on 31 July. Their round of 16 match – if they make it that far – is eight days later on 7 August.

Following the 0-0 draw between group rivals Nigeria and Canada on Friday, a victory against Nigeria would mean Australia qualifies for the knockout rounds, whatever the result is against Canada. That could mean there would be no need to risk Kerr until the round of 16 clash, which would be a “significant time difference” according to Bousie.

Ingram said Kerr returning to a full-game load by the round of 16 was possible. However, he thought it would be more likely the team will need to balance her load for the remainder of the tournament, which would involve four knockout matches in 14 days if Australia reach the final.

“The biggest risk factor for having a strained calf is if you’ve strained it before, so that four-by-90-minute matches over those couple of weeks, she will be more vulnerable than usual,” he said.

Even if Kerr has suffered a grade two strain, Ingram was optimistic she could still play a role in the tournament.

“A 16- to 21-day timeframe would be needed for that optimal healing, that’s still three weeks and let’s assume that started yesterday or the day before,” he said.

“That still gets her back maybe towards the end of the group stages or beyond that. But then again, I don’t think she’ll be playing a full match first match back.”

Prof David Pyne, an adjunct professor in sports physiology at the University of Canberra, said ultimately while there may be medical guidelines, the final decision about when Kerr plays will be made in consultation with her.

“With Sam and her experience, it would be based on both objective and subjective elements, taking into account the rehab and just where she’s up to at that time, so it could be a last minute decision,” he said.

Pappas cautioned there will always be a degree of luck in Kerr’s return.

“It is a bit of trial and error,” he said.

“Very gradually to try to see how she reacts to increased loading, increased speed, increased performance. And then you keep your fingers crossed.”

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