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Football Insider

Sam Kerr Opens Up About Her Struggle with Self-Doubt and Recovery After ACL Injury

Chelsea's WSL superstar Sam Kerr reveals her journey back to the pitch after a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury. Despite not feeling fully at her peak, Kerr shares her progress and determination to overcome challenges.

Sam Kerr Opens Up About Her Struggle with Self-Doubt and Recovery After ACL Injury

Sam Kerr has revealed her self-doubt and has explained why she still isn't "100 per cent" after her spell on the sidelines with a knee injury. The Australian suffered an ACL injury during a warm weather training camp in Morocco with Chelsea in January 2024 that restricted the forward to just eight Women's Super League appearances last season.Chelsea released a statement following confirmation of Kerr's injury in 2024 that read: "Everyone at Chelsea would like to wish Sam the very best for her recovery." The Australian has since struggled to force her way back into Sonia Bompastor's plans having started just one league match, while making an additional 13 appearances of the bench for the Blues.The usual recovery time for an ACL injury is between nine and 12 months, but Kerr spent an agonising 18 months out of the game before her return to action last September. A problem with a surgical graft that went undiscovered for 10 months meant the Australian's recovery time was longer than expected.Kerr, though, is back with the Australia squad ahead of their Asian Cup opener against the Philippines in Perth on Sunday as the 32-year-old reflected on her time away from the game.Speaking to the media on Saturday, the striker said: "It's kind of come in waves. I think at the start when I came back from the ACL with Chelsea at the start of the season I felt really good."And then I probably had a little bit of a dip, and then I felt from December onwards, when I started scoring a few more goals and just feeling relaxed and confident in my ability again, I started to really feel at my best."But I've had so many amazing people around me, and I feel right at home with the Matildas, so it's a good place for me to just settle back in and be myself."And when asked how she feels on a scale of 1-100, Kerr replied: "I feel like I'm probably 85 and above. I don't want to say I'm at 100 yet. I haven't had one of those games yet where I felt completely myself, but I think about 85 per cent and above."The Matildas are hoping to land the Asian Cup for the first time since 2010. Kerr was part of the Australia squad at the time as the then-16-year-old tasted international success with the national team.Kerr is the only remaining member of the squad that is still playing, which she admits makes her feel 'sad'. "That makes me sad that I'm the last one standing," Kerr said. "Still to this day, that is one of the best moments in my footballing career."And I know how much this team wants to win something together. I know how much every player wants to win something for the Matildas."Australia have a number of fitness concerns heading into the Asian Cup. Mary Fowler has played just two games since suffering an ACL injury of her own, goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold has barely trained, while Arsenal's Kyra Cooney-Cross was a no-show in open training, which raised doubts about her availability for Sunday's opener.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingKerr has also admitted that she is excited to be heading into the tournament without the focus on her injury. Kerr tore her left calf on the eve of the 2023 World Cup in Australia, and then injured her right calf before the third-place playoff loss to Sweden as the Matildas reached the semi-finals."I'm just really looking forward to being in a tournament and not talking about my left calf," Kerr said."I've had a long journey from my ACL return, so I'm just honestly so excited, so grateful to be back here and just be playing football, enjoying training, enjoying all the things that come in, come with the team."Obviously, the last tournament didn't go the way I wanted personally, but on a team level it was an amazing tournament. So I feel like I'm just really lucky to be here again at a major tournament on home soil."Most people in their career don't get to play one home tournament at home. So the fact that we get two opportunities is an incredible honour."

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Sam Kerr's Battle with Injury and Self-Doubt

In a recent interview, Sam Kerr bravely shared her experience of dealing with self-doubt and physical challenges following an ACL injury that kept her out of play for an extended period. The striker encountered setbacks during her recovery, including issues with a surgical graft that prolonged her time away from the field.

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Slow Progress and Determination

Kerr acknowledged the ups and downs she faced upon returning to competitive action, noting moments of doubt and frustration along the way. Despite not feeling at her absolute best, Kerr highlighted the support she received from her inner circle and the sense of belonging she found with the Matildas, which helped her feel more comfortable and confident on the pitch.

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Looking Ahead to the Asian Cup

As Kerr joins the Australia squad for the upcoming Asian Cup, she expressed optimism about her progress, rating herself at around 85% in terms of performance. Although not yet at full capacity, Kerr is eager to contribute to the team's efforts and aims to achieve success collectively with her teammates in the tournament.

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Aiming for Redemption and Team Glory

Reminiscing about past achievements and setbacks, Kerr highlighted her desire to win silverware with the Matildas and make her mark on the international stage once again. Despite past injuries casting a shadow over her previous tournaments, Kerr emphasized her gratitude for the opportunity to play at home soil and showcase her skills on a major platform.

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Gratitude and Excitement for the Future

Looking ahead with a positive mindset, Kerr expressed her enthusiasm for being back in tournament action without the weight of injury concerns. Having navigated through challenging periods in her career, Kerr remains grateful for the chance to compete and be part of a team striving for success on the global stage.

Published on Feb 28, 2026