Sam Kerr's injury represents three issues as Chelsea chase European and WSL glory

The thing about sustained greatness is that there’s always the risk of acclimatising. Somehow, the world grows accustomed to seeing it over and over again and the sparkle glitters less.

This was never the case with Sam Kerr. The Chelsea and Australia striker could produce something ridiculous and audacious on command without fail and yet, this phenomenon never stopped feeling phenomenal.

And that is why Chelsea find themselves with a problem. The Matildas star ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the reigning champion’s warm weather camp in Morocco.

The injury represents three issues. It is the second time Kerr has suffered an ACL injury in her career. The 30-year-old is the latest high-profile women’s footballer to succumb to the injury after a year effectively defined by it, re-opening the conversation around women footballer's disproportionate ACL injury rate in the face of the game's growth.

Australia will now be without their star player for the summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, making it two summers in a row that Kerr’s summer exploits with the national team have been scuppered by injury.

More immediate, though, is that Kerr’s injury means Blues boss Emma Hayes is now without her starting striker for the second half of a cramped and competitive season in which the Blues are still competing on all fronts. Chelsea currently sit three points clear of rivals Manchester City at the top of the WSL table, while also topping their Champions League group.

After recovering from a shin injury sustained on the eve of the Women’s World Cup over the summer, Kerr’s influence to help Chelsea reach this place is evident. She’s scored nine goals in 12 appearances across all competitions while recording another three assists.

Bef