Sawt Falasteen - Kerr wants Australia captaincy back on eagerly awaited return

Kerr is poised to make her first Matildas appearance in almost two years when Australia meet Wales in Cardiff this weekend.

The 32-year-old returned to club football for Chelsea in September after a long rehabilitation from a serious knee injury sustained in December 2023.

During her absence she went through a high-profile court case in London, where she was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer during a drunken night out.

However, the judge said her "behaviour contributed significantly to the bringing of this allegation".

Kerr was appointed captain in 2019, with Arsenal defender Steph Catley typically skippering the side since her injury.

"On being the captain, of course I still feel really passionate about that," she told Australian media from Wales.

"I know I have so much more to give for this team in a leadership role, and this team here will make football decisions, and I feel like football-wise, I'm one of the best leaders in the team.

"So I feel really passionate and proud that I've been in that position before, and hopefully continue forward."

Coach Joe Montemurro has yet to make a decision on who will wear the armband against Wales where Kerr -- Australia's all-time leading goalscorer -- is unlikely to play the full match.

She has managed limited minutes for Chelsea since returning but expects to be back to full fitness soon with the women's Asian Cup in Australia next March a key motivation.

"The Asian Cup is so important," she said. "When I last won it (in 2010), I was a young 16-year-old kid, so I didn't even really get to experience what it actually was like.

"Looking back, I was living my dream without even knowing it, so it would be good to hopefully lift the trophy. It would be a dream come true."

R.AbuNasser--SF-PST