Sam Kerr joins Chelsea training camp in big step towards injury return

Sam Kerr has joined her Women's Super League side Chelsea at its mid-season training camp in Portugal in a big step towards her return to football from a serious knee injury.

The inspirational striker has not stepped out for Chelsea or the Matildas in the last 12 months as she recovers from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Kerr suffered the injury at last season's warm-weather training camp held in Morocco at the beginning of last year.

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Last month, the Blues' head coach Sonia Bompastor said Kerr was expected to make her highly anticipated return in February or March.

However, news of her presence at the training camp could hint towards an earlier return after Kerr and her fiancée, fellow footballer Kristie Mewis, announced in November that they are expecting their first child.

Chelsea has stated that both Kerr and US Women's National Team striker Mia Fishel — who is also on the trip after suffering her own ACL injury last February — are not training with the rest of the squad as they continue their respective recovery plans.

The update is also promising for the Matildas with the national team to play in the SheBelievesCup in the USA in February — though the tournament may roll around too soon for Kerr to feature in.

While Kerr may well walk back into the Australian team, it will be no cakewalk breaking back into Chelsea's line-up.

In her absence, the side has won 15 of their 16 matches to sit six points clear at the top of the WSL standings.

Chelsea has also reached the quarter finals of the Women's Champions League with a perfect winning record.

Following the week-long training break in Portugal, Chelsea will face Charlton in the fourth round of its FA Women's Cup defence on Monday, January 13 AEDT.