Kerr 'will not return' before international break

Chelsea striker Sam Kerr will not return before the international break in April, says Blues manager Sonia Bompastor.

The 31-year-old Australia international has not played for more than a year after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament during training in January 2024.

She returned to individual training in January but Bompastor says Kerr is not yet ready to return to the playing squad.

"We go week by week, and maybe after the international break we'll have a better idea when she will come back with us," she said.

Chelsea have three more matches before the international break - two against Manchester City and one against West Ham.

Last week Kerr was included in Chelsea's 25-player squad for the Champions League knockout stages, but she was not involved as the Blues lost their quarter-final first leg to Manchester City, with the return on Thursday at Stamford Bridge.

Australia interim coach Tom Sermanni had previously said he was hopeful Kerr would be available for his side's two friendlies against South Korea between 4-7 April.

In February, Kerr was found not guilty of causing racially aggravated harassment, after calling a Metropolitan Police officer "stupid and white".

Despite her involvement in the court case, Chelsea have remained behind the forward, who made her senior Australia debut aged just 15.