Sam Kerr rocked by ACL injury diagnosis

The development and progress of the Australian national women’s soccer team has been seismic in recent years and no player has played a bigger part in that than Sam Kerr. 

Having scored 69 goals in 128 appearances for the Matildas, Sam Kerr has transcended women’s football and is a household name with all domestic and international betting sites. 

However, an ACL injury setback suffered on Chelsea’s winter training camp looks set to have disastrous consequences.  

In the ever-evolving and developing world of women’s soccer, Sam Kerr has arguably been the best player on the planet over the past decade. 
 
Hailing from New South Wales, Kerr made a name for herself with her goal scoring prowess in the A-League for Perth Glory and Sydney FC, before moving to the MLS. 
 
The goals continued to flow for Kerr, who’s consistency in front of goal has made her a shoe-in with many punters and betting apps and her goal scoring exploits for both Chelsea and Australia are unrivalled. 
 
Kerr KO 

The devastating nature of the ACL injury suffered by Sam Kerr simply cannot be overstated. With Chelsea on a warm-weather training camp in Morocco, many people expected her and her team mates to come back firing in the WSL. 
 
However, whilst the details of Kerr’s injury have not been made public, the ACL diagnosis is disastrous and for Chelsea, missing Kerr for the second half of the season will be a huge loss. 
 
With the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United in hot pursuit, Chelsea will need to find a way to replace Sam Kerr very quickly. 

ACL again 

Whilst initial thoughts and sympathy after the injury do of course go to Sam Kerr, it is the latest in a concerning emerging pattern of ACL injuries to take place at the sharp end of women’s football. 
 
Global women’s football superstars Beth Mead, Leah Williamson, Vivianne Miedema and Janine Beckie have all suffered ACL injuries over the past 12 months, raising questions about the frequency of ACL injuries within the women’s game. 
 
Governing body FIFPRO have called for greater protection of women’s players, due to increased workload and international scheduling, with the injury to Sam Kerr sure to only add more scrutiny to those pleas. 
 
Can Chelsea cope? 

2024 was always due to be a difficult year in prospect for Chelsea, as legendary manager Emma Hayes announced her decision to leave the blues and join the US National team at the end of the season. 
 
Not having Sam Kerr for the remainder of the campaign is also bound to have an impact on a playing group that are so used to winning both domestic and European trophies. 
 
Key names such as Lauren James, Aggie Beever-Jones and Mia Fischel will all need to step up in Kerr’s absence but without the reigning Golden Boot winner in action, the race for the WSL title has become a lot closer with many online betting sites. 

Sam Kerr’s performances for her native Australia and her club side Chelsea over the past few years have been nothing short of extraordinary, with her goals almost single-handedly propelling her sides to glory. 

However, a hammer blow ACL injury has threatened to sideline Kerr for the whole of 2024 and her teams will need to stand up and be counted without her.