VIDEO: Sam Kerr is BACK! Chelsea striker marks long-awaited return from ACL injury with goal in first game for 634 days

It was revealed in January 2024 that Kerr had picked up an injury that would keep her out of action for a considerable period of time. Few could have predicted at that stage that she would miss so much action for club and country.

A long road to recovery has been taken in, with Kerr working her way through the most gruelling of rehabilitation programmes. She had been hoping to grace the field again before the 2024-25 campaign came to a close, but said season proved to be a complete write off.

Chelsea confirmed that Kerr was training with their first team in August, which hinted at an imminent return to competitive action being made. Said appearance finally arrived, 634 days after her last, when paying a visit to Villa Park.

Kerr was introduced off the bench in that contest, with Sonia Bompastor giving her a 15-minute run out. An immediate impact was made, with the 32-year-old forward registering an emotional goal in stoppage-time.

Kerr’s effort was not the most eye-catching of her career, as she bundled home from close range following a mad scramble inside the Villa penalty area, but she will not care and can expect to figure more prominently for the reigning WSL champions over the coming weeks.