Chelsea do not expect to have Sam Kerr back for “at least two or three more months” as she continues her recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
Australia international Kerr, 31, suffered the injury during a warm weather training camp in Morocco in January.
Chelsea went on to secure a record-extending fifth successive Women’s Super League (WSL) title in her absence before Kerr signed a two-contract extension to stay at Kingsmeadow in June.
Head coach Sonia Bompastor revealed on Friday that the forward is yet to return to full training and will not be fit enough to re-join the group until well into the new year.
“We are maybe looking at having her back with us in February or March — not before that,” Bompastor said ahead of this weekend’s meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.
“She hasn’t started yet to train and be modified with the group. She’s still on her individual process rehab. I think it will take at least two or three more months for her to be fit enough with the squad.”
Bompastor, who replaced former manager Emma Hayes ahead of the 2024-25 season, has won every game in charge so far — a perfect 12 from 12.
Against Brighton her chances of a 13th will be helped with Niamh Charles set to be welcomed back from injury for the first time this season while fellow England international Lauren James is also on track in her own recovery, but is again unlikely to feature again until 2025.
“I need to talk to the medical staff to see everything. We have Maika (Hamano) who just felt unwell. She’s fine now, but will see if she is 100 per cent or not,” she said.
“LJ (Lauren James) is progressing really well with her rehab. She’s in a good position mentally. I think it will be difficult to see LJ before the end of the year, but we still have a small hope of that. We’ll see but I’m more expecting her to play with us in January.
“Niamh was almost ready for the Manchester United game before the international window, but we didn’t want to take any risk especially because we were in a position where she had two more weeks to build.
“She’s completely fit now and she’s ready to be in the squad.”
(Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
