The Matildas finally come clean on whether Sam Kerr will play at the Olympics after skipper’s horror knee injury
- Kerr tore the knee ligament in January
- Was then in a race against time to make a selection
- Clare Hunt has overcome injury and will play
Sam Kerr’s Olympic dream is officially over after she was officially banned from competing in the Paris Games.
However, influential defender Clare Hunt has overcome injury to return to a Matildas squad still without Katrina Gorry, who remains a chance to make the team for the impending Olympics.
Hunt has overcome a foot stress fracture and is in the Matildas’ 23-player squad for two friendlies against China on May 31 in Adelaide and June 3 in Sydney.
Captain and star striker Sam Kerr and fellow striker Amy Sayer have both been officially ruled out of the Paris Games after undergoing knee reconstructions.
And Gorry, who underwent ankle surgery last month, is in a race against time for the Olympics that start at the end of July.
Sam Kerr’s horror year has just got worse with the news that she has lost her race against time to prove her fitness for the Paris Olympics
The Matildas and Chelsea superstar tore a ligament in her knee (pictured) in January during a training camp with the British squad
Gorry and Aivi Luik (hamstring) will miss the matches against a Chinese side coached by former Matildas coach Ante Milicic.
But current Matildas boss Tony Gustavsson hopes both will be available for Olympic selection.
“I think everyone here can make the calculations and understand that the Olympic selection will obviously be largely based on the selection that is in the next May/June camp,” Gustavsson said on Tuesday.
‘However, there are also some players in Katrina and Aivi who are not available for selection for this period, but who will most likely be physically available to be part of an Olympic squad.
There was better news for West Ham star Katrina Gorry (pictured), who still has a chance to represent her country in France after ankle surgery
“This window will be difficult for me and my staff in terms of assessing players, where they are, and then the final selection process for Paris.”
Defender Courtney Nevin and goalkeeper Lydia Williams, who will retire from international football after the Olympics, also return to the Matildas squad after being unavailable for the international window last month.
The squad includes 21 of the 23 players who helped Australia qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with 17 international players and six home players, including Courtnee Vine and Jada Whyman from A-League Women title winners Sydney FC.
“The squad we have named… is based on their performances for their respective clubs and also based on our national team environment,” Gustavsson said.
Clare Hunt (pictured playing at last year’s World Cup) is on a plane to Paris after making a full recovery from her injury
‘Some players are selected based on past performances, in tournaments and in previous camps, while others are chosen based on their current strong form.
‘Now that the Olympic Games are approaching, selection is about seeing the big picture over four years of performance and putting together the best possible team.’
The selection for the Olympic Games will be announced in June.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR CHINA TWO GAME SERIES
Steph Catley (captain), Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler, Sharn Freier, Charlotte Grant, Winonah Heatley, Michelle Heyman, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Teagan Micah, Courtney Nevin, Clare Polkinghorne, Hayley Raso, Kaitlyn Torpey, Emily van Egmond, Cortnee Vine, Clare Wheeler, Jada Whyman, Lydia Williams, Tameka Yallop