Matildas fans are split over whether Sam Kerr should be rushed back for must-win Canada game – even if she’s not 100 per cent fit

Australia’s Women’s World Cup hopes could rest on the shoulders of superstar Sam Kerr, but her injured calf has fans divided on whether the Matildas should risk their captain in a do-or-die clash against Canada.

The Chelsea star was one of the favourites to score the most goals at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand but has failed to line up in the opening matches against Republic of Ireland and Nigeria.

Thursday night’s loss to the Nigerians mean that Australia now might have the luxury of resting Kerr, with some fans calling for her to play – even if it is on one leg.

If Australia cannot beat Canada, they will face a nervous wait to see if they advance beyond the group stage depending on other results. A loss would end their World Cup.

Sam Kerr is the Matildas captain and a superstar striker who was expected to have a huge impact at the World Cup

The Matildas have been forced to rally without Kerr and also striker Mary Fowler resulting in a shock loss against Nigeria

If Kerr is sidelined against Canada then the Aussies risk bowing out of the World Cup without their skipper playing a single game

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson recognises the gravity of the situation and will give Kerr until game day to prove her fitness and take per place in the team. 

‘All I can say now is that I hope so [that she’ll be ready to play],’ he said.

‘I know it’s going to be tight. I said in a press conference yesterday … I most likely will not get the confirmation on that until the night before the game. And then we’ll go from there.

‘It might even be (the case) where we need to test her to see if she can play on game day. ‘That’s how tight it is, I know that, I can say already now so everyone knows what it’s like. 

 ‘I know we’re going to get questions from now all the way to the game, but I can say already now I’m not going to be able to tell you that until either the night before the game or on game day, because that’s how long we’ll have to wait to see if she’s available or not.’

It has raised the question over whether Australia should play Kerr even if she does not 100 per cent pass her fitness test.

Fellow striker Mary Fowler will return from concussion protocols to give the Matildas some much-needed punch in the forward line.

But many fans believe Kerr must play as well, no matter the risk.  

‘Cmooon Sammy , we need you!! Take some Nurofen, big can of Red Bull and please god play,’ urged one Matildas supporter.

‘If Kerr doesn’t play I don’t think we have a chance of winning,’ added another.

”If she’s in any position to play, she has to take the field. If she doesn’t, it suggests the injury is more ‘tear’ than ‘strain’. What an interesting few days ahead,’ suggested another fan.

‘I don’t know how well Sam Kerr’s recovery is going but she’s in that starting line-up vs. Canada,’ another posted.

‘You play her surely,’ added another.

While the temptation might be there, other fans believe it is not worth the risk considering what is at stake beyond the match against Canada.

‘It doesn’t matter how forceful her arguments are, Sam Kerr should not play against Canada on Monday night. It will be tempting but it would be a mistake. Save our Sam,’ Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas wrote in his column for The West.

‘Surely she’s had numerous scans to determine the extent of the injury is it a strain or is it a tear, even if it’s a slight tear she has no chance of playing the coaching staff and physio’s need to be straight up and the team and coaching squad need to be able to alter the game plan and squad to adapt, in a tournament like this you can’t just hold out to game day and hope she’s ok,’ warned another supporter. 

‘You can’t put this amount of emphasis on one player! We need her yes but man – the rest can do the job,’ another fan posted.

‘If it comes down to game day she’ll be a sub at the most,’ added another.