Australian captain Sam Kerr has been ruled out of the co-host’s first two World Cup games which include the clash against the Super Falcons of Nigeria.
The Chelsea star picked up a calf injury barely an hour before Australia’s first game against Ireland.
“Unfortunately I sustained a calf injury yesterday in training. I wanted to share this with everyone so there is no distraction from what we came here to achieve,” Kerr said in a statement.
Sam will be unavailable for the next two matches, with the Matildas medical team to reassess her following our second group-stage match.”
Football Writers’ Association women’s footballer of the year Kerr, 29, took to Instagram to express her disappointment in a post that read: “Unfortunately I sustained a calf injury yesterday in training.
“I wanted to share this with everyone so there is no distraction from us doing what we came here to achieve.
“Of course I would have loved to have been out there tonight but I can’t wait to be a part of this amazing journey which starts now.”