With less than a month to go until the start of the Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, Matildas fans – not to mention coach Joe Montemurro – might be getting a bit edgy about the state of their two highest-profile players.
Since returning from injury earlier this season, Sam Kerr has still managed to score goals fairly regularly but has clearly fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea, and was reduced to a bit-part role in Monday morning’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the Women’s Super League.
While fellow Australian Ellie Carpenter put in yet another strong 90-minute performance, Kerr’s services weren’t required until the 79th minute, with the game effectively over as a contest after earlier goals from her Chelsea teammates Keira Walsh and Alyssa Thompson.
Kerr is no doubt still a lock for the Asian Cup squad but the fact her game time is still so limited at Chelsea, despite returning form injury almost five months ago, might be cause for some concern in the Matildas camp.
Australian defender Clare Hunt played the full game for Spurs but was unable to prevent the defeat that saw Tottenham remain in fifth spot on the Women’s Super League ladder.
Pop icon Madonna was in the stands to watch the game, with her daughters part of Tottenham’s academy system.
I just had a really overwhelming moment in the tunnel at Tottenham, where I’m getting in the zone thinking about my post-match questions… Look up and see only bloody Madonna walking towards me. Whaaaaaaat on earth pic.twitter.com/53iJaEuWIM
— Betty Glover (@BettyGlover_) February 8, 2026
Meanwhile after making her long-awaited return from injury last week, Mary Fowler was omitted from Manchester City’s matchday squad for the game against Arsenal as the 22-year-old’s minutes continue to be managed following such an extended break out of the game.
A few days before the match, City coach Andree Jeglertz had warned reporters that Fowler would need to be eased back into action.
“She can’t just go in and have the same as everyone else, she’s been away for a long time, Jeglertz said.
“(She) is now back but it takes time to get to the same level physically and as a player as she was when she got injured.”
There are no such concerns around Arsenal duo Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley, who helped the Gunners beat City 1-0, with Olivia Smith scoring the winner.
🎶 One-nil to the Arsenal 🎶 pic.twitter.com/RzzYorNakA
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) February 8, 2026
The result put a halt on City’s march towards the WSL title, and kept Arsenal in touch with third-placed Chelsea and second-placed Manchester United.
Elsewhere in the Women’s Super League, Katrina Gorry came off the bench at half-time to help West Ham engineer a brilliant comeback, running out 3-2 winners after going down 2-0 in the first half.
Matildas teammates Alanna Kennedy and Clare Wheeler went head to head in the game between London City Lionesses and Everton, with Wheeler’s side emerging 1-0 winners.
Emily van Egmond played the full 90 for Leicester but was powerless to stop Manchester United from winning 2-0, marching to their fifth-straight victory in all competitions.