sport news Sam Kerr reveals what she'll do when she quits playing, the job she'd love if ... trends now
Matildas skipper Sam Kerr is refusing to believe her Olympic dream is completely dead - but if she can't play on the pitch, she may still have a very important role to play off it.
The Chelsea striker suffered an ACL injury while on a warm-weather training camp in Morocco in early January, all-but ruling her out of the Matildas Paris Olympics campaign.
Australia will play their group stage matches in Marseille and Nice and will open their Olympic campaign against Germany on July 25 at the Stade de Marseille.
It usually takes six to nine months to recover from a torn ACL, but professional athletes often take longer to get their strength and fitness back up to speed.
That means Kerr would have to defy medical history to have any chance of playing for the Matildas.
Sam Kerr is the Matildas captain and leading striker, but is almost certain to miss out on the Paris Olympics through injury
Kerrs loves the bond she has with her teammates and the camaraderie they enjoy even when they play against each other at club level
There have been some possibilities suggested, like carrying Kerr on the bench as long as possible and possibly deploying her for a brief cameo if Australia makes the medal rounds.
It has also been suggested the Kerr could be used as a specialist penalty shooter if unable to play but able to strike with her non-injured leg.
Now, Kerr has opened on the reality of her playing any role on the pitch in Paris - and the news is not good for Matildas fans.
'Realistically, the Olympics probably isn't there but I'm still trying to push to get there as soon as I can,' she said in an interview with Vogue magazine.
It's probably a bit too soon [for the Olympics] but I'm pushing every day to be as strong as I can, as fit as I can and get back to playing my best football.'
