Sam Kerr makes a HUGE step toward returning to football in major boost for Matildas and Chelsea

Superstar striker Sam Kerr is closing in on a return for Chelsea, almost a year after she tore her anterior cruciate ligament at a training camp in Morocco.

Kerr, 31, subsequently missed the Paris Olympics following the injury last January – and admitted recently her recovery has been been frustrating at times.

But if an Instagram story from Chelsea FCW on Tuesday is any guide, it appears the Matildas captain will soon be once again gracing the Blues’ team sheet.

In the clip, Kerr can be seen joking around with her teammates as they prepared for a team photo shoot in London.

Kerr is yet to feature in the Women’s Super League this season as she is nursed back to full fitness.

It comes after Kerr announced on Instagram in November that she and long-time partner Kristie Mewis are expecting a baby in 2025.

The Chelsea goal machine was all smiles (right) with her teammates ahead of a photo shoot in London

Kerr also announced on Instagram in November that she and long-time partner Kristie Mewis are expecting a baby in 2025

The pair posted a heart-warming set of pictures of themselves while holding up a picture of Mewis’ scans.

The footballing duo – Mewis plays for West Ham and the USWNT – were all smiles as they celebrated the exciting news with their Instagram followers.

Kerr’s Matildas team-mate and Manchester City star Mary Fowler was one of the first to comment on the post, writing: ‘Congratulations’ adding a ‘heart-eyes’ emoji.

Meanwhile, Kerr’s trial on charges of alleged racial aggravated harassment of a police officer will take place in February next year.

Kerr denies charges of intentionally causing ‘racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress to a police officer’ following a night out in Twickenham, London in January of 2023.

The trial is scheduled to last four days from February 3.

It is understood PC Stephen Lovell was called to the scene at Twickenham surrounding a dispute over a taxi fare after the superstar footballer had spent a night out celebrating a FA Cup win over Liverpool – where she scored a hat-trick for Chelsea.

Kerr also reportedly vomited in the taxi and at the time was arrested and interviewed.

Her legal team have since argued Kerr was subject to abuse of process after it took a year for her to be charged.

Kerr will not be obliged to attend the hearing next February in person.

If convicted, Kerr could face a maximum jail term of two years or be deported from the United Kingdom.