Small detail spells great news for Sam Kerr fans as the smiling Matildas superstar steps out with her teammates in Sydney

Sam Kerr has reunited with her Matildas teammates in Sydney as a telling detail shows she’s made huge strides in her fight to return to the field after suffering a serious knee injury.

Daily Mail Australia pictured the superstar striker stepping out in the team’s home base of Double Bay in the city’s east on Tuesday morning, accompanied by fellow Tillies Caitlin Foord and Alanna Kennedy. 

Kerr was smiling and in good spirits after having breakfast with Foord, Kennedy and Matildas goalie Mackenzie Arnold at the exclusive Bills eatery, posting a pic of the get-together to Instagram with the caption ‘Back with me girlies’.

The 31-year-old has been out since January last year after suffering a rupture anterior cruciate ligament in her knee, but is very close to returning to action after she was named in Chelsea’s squad for the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals.

Kerr was wearing a long compression sleeve on her injured knee in our exclusive photos, but Daily Mail Australia’s photographer noticed a development that will come as very welcome news to the star’s fans.

The striker had a gym workout with other members of the team, after which the brace came off in a sign of just how far she’s come in her recovery.

The striker caught up with her close friends and teammates Caitlin Foord (left) and Alanna Kennedy while sporting a compression sleeve on her injured right knee

Daily Mail Australia’s photographer said Kerr was gracious and happy to pose for photos when excited fans interrupted her breakfast catch-up with the Matildas (pictured)

Kerr is expected to be the star attraction as the Matildas hold a fan day at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney’s inner west on Tuesday afternoon, but it remains to be seen if she participates in the 60-minute training run, which is open to the public.

Six weeks ago, Kerr posted a series of photos showing her doing ballwork and drills with Chelsea, in a sign she could do the same with her Tillies teammates ahead of their friendlies against South Korea in Sydney on Friday, then in Newcastle on Monday.

Few expect the star to be on the field for those matches, but the national side’s matches against Argentina in Melbourne and Canberra in late May and early June seem a sure bet for her return to wearing the green and gold, barring any setbacks.

Daily Mail Australia’s photographer also said Kerr was gracious and happy to pose for photos when fans approached her and interrupted her meal with her teammates on Tuesday.

On Monday she received the happy news that she will be reinstated as Matildas skipper after some cast doubt on her fitness for the role due to her bombshell court case, which ended with her being found not guilty on one charge of racially-aggravated harassment of a police officer. 

Kerr spoke of her ‘regret’ for the incident, with the FA board concluding that it warranted no further action.

‘I want to express my sincere regret for how events unfolded,’ Kerr said in a Football Australia statement.

‘It was an incredibly difficult period for me, my family, my club, my teammates, and especially for the fans whose support means so much to us.

Kerr (pictured with Alanna Kennedy) showed she’s very close to her long-awaited return to the field when she completed a gym session and removed the brace after these shots were taken

Kerr’s Instagram post showed how happy she is to finally be reunited with her close mates after being out of action since January last year

‘I recognise that leadership means being mindful of our actions both on and off the pitch.

‘I’m proud of the Matildas, the role I have played as a member of that team, and everything we stand for, and I’m committed to learning from this experience.’

Crucially, it means Kerr’s captaincy, which she has held since 2019, has been settled before the Matildas’ next coach is appointed.

Tony Gustavsson’s permanent replacement is expected to be in place by mid-year.

Kerr was charged after calling a police officer “f***ing stupid and white” late in an hour-long altercation at Twickenham police station in the early hours of January 30, 2023.

That followed a taxi journey that went sour when a drunk Kerr vomited out of the window.

The altercation with police turned heated after it became clear the officers did not believe Kerr and fiancee Kristie Mewis’s telling of events.

FA were blindsided when Kerr’s charge came to light in March 2024.

On Monday, FA noted the incident had “implications” in relation to its code of conduct, but stopped short of saying Kerr had breached it.