Matildas vice-captain Emily van Egmond has thrown her support behind Sam Kerr to continue as captain when the star striker is ready to resume playing with the national side.
Kerr has joined a Matildas camp for the first time since injuring her knee in training with club side Chelsea more than a year ago, ahead of a pair of friendlies on home soil against South Korea.
Football Australia cleared the way for the 31-year-old to take back the captain’s armband by deciding not to sanction the striker for a late-night incident in the UK during which she verbally abused a police officer.
Kerr on Monday expressed “sincere regret” for the events that followed a night out in London in early 2023 and led to a criminal trial where she was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment in February.
Van Egmond said that Kerr “definitely should not be stepping down” as Matildas captain once she is ready to play again.
“The federation have come out and said what they need to say,” Van Egmond added.
“Obviously Sammy’s had her side to say as well, and as teammates and a team, we’re in full support of her, and we’re just looking forward to the game now on Friday.”
Steph Catley has stepped up to captain the Matildas when playing in Kerr’s absence, with Van Egmond regularly taking on the vice-captaincy over the past 15 months.
The Matildas’ defender is expected to lead the side again against South Korea in Sydney on Friday and then in Newcastle on Monday.
While Kerr will not line up against the No 19-ranked South Korea over the coming week, the Matildas striker can eye a return in a pair of clashes with Argentina in late May and early June.
“It’s amazing,” Van Egmond said of Kerr linking up with the Matildas squad in Sydney.
“Not only for herself but for the team. It’s just been really nice to have her around us. [We’ll] continue to support her with whatever she needs before she’s back on the pitch.
“Obviously you guys know Sammy very well, she’s a bubbly personality, she’s our captain, it’s really good to have her, and it’s really nice to see her back in high spirits around the team.”
The Matildas are out to return to form against South Korea after a horror SheBelieves Cup campaign where they failed to win a match against Japan, USA and Colombia.
But they will have to do so without key midfielder Katrina Gorry after the 32-year-old was forced out of the two friendlies due to an ankle injury.
The Matildas are running out of time to build momentum under interim head coach Tom Sermanni with the start of the Asian Cup on home soil now under a year away.
“We’ve spoken as a team and it’s not where we obviously want it to be,” Van Egmond said.
“But getting these games is really important and the goal is the Asian Cup. So now we’ve got a good opportunity on Friday night to go out and have a good performance and kind of start getting back to work.”
