Chelsea manager Emma Hayes moved to ease Australian fears over Sam Kerr’s fitness ahead of the Women’s World Cup after the Matildas striker was withdrawn after half an hour of the London club’s Women’s Super League match on Sunday.
Kerr is crucial to Australia’s hopes of going deep into the tournament, which the country co-hosts with New Zealand from July 20 to August 20 this year.
“Sam was sick last night,” Hayes said after the 7-0 win over Everton that lifted Chelsea to second in the league.
“He decided to play but his calf went bad so we decided to take him out.”
Kerr, who scored Chelsea’s second goal with a header before being withdrawn, spent Saturday at the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III in London, carrying the Australian flag in procession at Westminster Abbey.