Interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni says there’s a “good chance” captain Sam Kerr could be available for two fixtures against Korea in April despite questions hanging over the superstar amid shock revelations in a London court.
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As part of an early sighter against prospective opponents for the home AFC Asian Cup in 2026, the Matildas will play the Korea Republic in Sydney and Newcastle.
Having said on Monday, as he announced Kerr would miss the SheBelieves Cup tournament in the US later in February, Sermanni said he believed the skipper, who is running strongly in her return from an ACL injury, could play in March.
That timeline could allow Kerr, who is on trial in London having been charged with causing racially aggravated harassment to a police constable, to feature in the two internationals which Sermanni on Tuesday said could be on the cards.
“Right now, I would say there’s a decent chance that she will be fit,” Sermanni said.
“She’s feeling good, she’s feeling fit, she’s feeling healthy.
“But then, by that stage, she’s not played for probably 15 months.
“A lot of things will potentially depend on what her schedule is with Chelsea, how quickly or how slowly, rather, and safely, we need to bring her back.”
FA boss James Johnson said the matches against Korea would be crucial in the lead-up to the Asian Cup.
“We are delighted to secure Korea Republic for our first home international series of 2025. As we build towards the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, facing high-calibre opposition like Korea Republic is crucial in sharpening the team’s competitive edge,” he said.
“With the tournament just over a year away, this series offers fans an exciting preview of the level of competition they can expect on home soil. We look forward to seeing our passionate supporters fill Allianz Stadium and McDonald Jones Stadium to back the CommBank Matildas.”
The matches will be played on Friday, April 4 at Allianz Stadium and then on Monday, November 7 in Newcastle.
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