# Sam Kerr’s Fitness a Major Question Mark Ahead of Australia’s Crucial Women’s World Cup Match Against Canada
Australia is facing a major question mark ahead of their crucial Women’s World Cup match against Canada on Monday: will captain Sam Kerr be fit to play? The Chelsea striker missed Australia’s opening two games with a calf injury and the Matildas are in need of a victory to guarantee a place in the knockout stages of the tournament. Coach Tony Gustavsson has said that they won’t know until the night before the game whether Kerr will be able to play, and if she is available they will need to come up with a plan to maximize her potential minutes on the pitch.
Kerr is Australia’s record goalscorer and watched from the sidelines in Brisbane as her side took the lead against Nigeria, only for the Super Falcons to fight back and silence the home crowd.
The Matildas had a shortage of attacking options against Nigeria with Mary Fowler missing the game with concussion, while Tottenham striker Kyah Simon is recovering from a long-term knee ligament injury and is yet to feature at the tournament. Despite the result, Gustavsson was happy with side’s attacking display and noted that they had 28 shots, scored two goals, and improved from their game against Ireland.
However, it is clear that Australia needs Kerr if they are going to have any chance of making it through to the knockout stages of the tournament, and it will be a race against time to see if she can make it onto the pitch on Monday night.
## Kerr’s Injury History
Kerr has had a long history of injuries throughout her career, including a knee injury in 2018 that sidelined her for four months and required surgery to repair a torn meniscus in her right knee. She also suffered a hamstring injury in 2019 which kept her out for several weeks and forced her to miss two games for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Kerr has also had issues with her calf in the past, which is the same injury she is currently dealing with at the Women’s World Cup. In 2017 she suffered a calf strain which kept her out for several weeks and forced her to miss two NWSL games for Sky Blue FC, as well as two international matches for Australia against Brazil and Japan.
## Australia’s Chances Without Kerr
If Kerr is unable to play on Monday night, Australia will have to rely on other players to step up and fill the void left by their captain and leading goalscorer. The Matildas have some talented players in their squad, including forwards Hayley Raso and Emily Gielnik who have both scored in the tournament so far, as well as midfielder Elise Kellond-Knight who has been instrumental in controlling the midfield for Australia in their first two games.
However, without Kerr leading the line it will be difficult for Australia to break down Canada’s defence and find the goals they need to secure a place in the knockout stages of the tournament. It will be a tough task for Australia even with Kerr in the squad, but without her it will be even more difficult for them to get the result they need on Monday night.
## Conclusion
Australia will have to wait until the last minute to make a decision on captain Sam Kerr’s fitness for Monday’s crucial Women’s World Cup game against Canada, and it could be a race against time to see if she can make it onto the pitch in time for kick off on Monday night. If Kerr is unable to play, Australia will have to rely on other players to step up and fill the void left by their captain and leading goalscorer if they are going to have any chance of making it through to the knockout stages of the tournament.