Sam Kerr and Emily van Egmond have gone from W-League rivals as teenagers to key figures for the Matildas

  • Sam Kerr celebrated her birthday on Tuesday
  • Matildas teammates created collages on social media
  • Kerr, 31, continues to recover from an ACL injury

Matildas superstar Sam Kerr celebrated her 31st birthday on Tuesday – and there were plenty of well-wishes from a number of high-profile teammates.

It comes as the striker continues to recover from an ACL injury which unfolded during a training camp in Morocco with Chelsea back in January.

The setback saw Kerr miss the rest of the Women’s Super League season with the Blues – as well as the Olympics in Paris, where the goal poacher was sorely missed by Aussie fans.

Tony Gustavsson’s squad failed to progress beyond the group stage, and the Swede saw his four-year tenure as Matildas head coach end in disappointing circumstances.

Kerr also recently stated she won’t rush back to the pitch amid rumours she would be back playing in October.

‘The injury is good,’ she told Optus Sport.

‘I’m not putting a date on my return, [I am] just making sure I get it right and making sure I feel good before I get back.

‘I mean, it’s my second ACL, so I know you need to take the time, you need to make sure it’s right and I’m doing everything I can.

Sam Kerr and Emily van Egmond have gone from W-League rivals as teenagers to key figures for the Matildas

Sam Kerr and Emily van Egmond have gone from W-League rivals as teenagers to key figures for the Matildas

Vice-captain and left back Steph Catley also passed on birthday wishes to Kerr on social media

Vice-captain and left back Steph Catley also passed on birthday wishes to Kerr on social media

It was the same story for Caitlin Foord, who for many years has played alongside Kerr as a striker for the Matildas

It was the same story for Caitlin Foord, who for many years has played alongside Kerr as a striker for the Matildas

Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and Kerr have enjoyed significant success with the Matildas in recent years

Goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and Kerr have enjoyed significant success with the Matildas in recent years

The Chelsea striker ruptured her ACL while on a training camp in Morocco in early January - and dismissed reports she will return to the pitch in October with the Blues

The Chelsea striker ruptured her ACL while on a training camp in Morocco in early January – and dismissed reports she will return to the pitch in October with the Blues

‘But there’s definitely no rush for me, I want to make sure I can play for many more years to come.’

When it came to her birthday, Kerr no doubt would have been chuffed a number of Matildas teammates reached out on social media.

One was midfielder Emily van Egmond, who shared an image of the pair as teenagers following a W-League match.

At the time, van Egmond was on the books of the Newcastle Jets, with Kerr playing for Perth Glory.

Fellow striker Caitlin Foord, left back Steph Catley and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold all shared montages alongside Kerr from recent years. 

Away from football, Kerr stands accused of allegedly racially harassing a police officer during a boozy night out in London in January of 2023.

The Mail exclusively revealed the 31-year-old was charged and entered a not guilty plea on March 4 this year, with a four-day criminal trial set for February next year.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed that the incident, which took place on January 30, 2023, was sparked by a dispute over a taxi fare before Kerr allegedly used insulting, threatening or abusive words that caused alarm or distress to the officer.

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