Sam Kerr injury return: Chelsea striker could return this season

Striker Sam Kerr will “hopefully” return before the end of the season, says Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor.

Bompastor said it was “difficult” for her to put an exact timeframe on when the 31-year-old Australian will be able to play following a serious knee injury.

Kerr has not played for more than 12 months after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament during training in January 2024.

The Blues, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona on Sunday, have just four games left of this campaign.

The Women’s Super League finishes on 10 May but they also have the FA Cup final against Manchester United on 18 May.

“She’s working really hard,” said Bompastor. “All the performance staff are doing everything for her to play this season.

“We’ll see how it goes. We know we only have a few games left now. Hopefully, yes, but it’s difficult for me to have a clear answer.”

In February, Kerr was found not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment after calling a Metropolitan Police officer “stupid and white”.

She returned to individual training in January and Australia interim coach Tom Sermanni hoped she would be fit for his side’s two matches at the start of April – but that proved too optimistic.