(Reuters) – Australia coach Tony Gustavsson will consult his medical staff before deciding to field Sam Kerr in Tuesday’s clash with England after the Chelsea forward missed Friday’s 1-0 loss against Scotland for the Women’s World Cup hosts.
Gustavsson did not reveal the injury that kept the prolific striker out of the friendly clash in London, which was decided by Nicola Docherty’s goal in the opening minute of the second half, but he remains hopeful she will be available.
“If I’m guessing today, I’m guessing she will be available, but that’s just speculation,” said the Swede.
“So, I need to talk to the sports science and medicine team and Sam herself, and see where she’s at come Tuesday, but I know she would love to play.”
Kerr spent the entire game on the sidelines with Gustavsson resisting the temptation to introduce the forward, who has scored 20 times in 21 club games this season, as the Australians sought an equaliser.
The defeat was the Matildas’ first in eight games and came against a Scotland side that has not qualified for the World Cup, which Australia will co-host with New Zealand in July and August.
“It’s itching in me, and itching in Sam, but we’d agreed on a long talk last night that the best thing for her was to rest this one,” Gustavsson said.
“She’s coming from an extremely tough game environment in her club, with back-to-back games every week for almost two months.
“It’s about the bigger picture. If it was me 15 years ago as coach, young, inexperienced and thinking that the short-term result is what matters, I probably would’ve played her and risked the big picture.
“But now, with a little bit more experience and understanding there is a bigger picture, I doesn’t mean I don’t want to win but I don’t want to win at the expense of sacrificing key players and risking health.”
(Reporting by Michael Church in Hong Kong, Editing by Robert Birsel)
