Tony Gustavsson, head coach of Australia's national women's football team, on Monday described a serious knee injury for captain Sam Kerr as devastating.

Australia's Sam Kerr goes for goal during a friendly against New Zealand in Canberra, Australia on April 12, 2022. (Photo by Chu Chen/Xinhua)

Kerr's club side, English giants Chelsea, on Sunday announced that superstar striker Kerr sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a warm weather training camp in Morocco.

The injury, which typically has a recovery time of between nine and 12 months, means the 30-year-old Kerr will likely miss the 2024 Paris Olympics if the Matildas beat Uzbekistan over two legs in February to qualify for the major tournament.

Acknowledging the injury in a statement on Monday, Gustavsson said it was a devastating blow for the national team's aspirations in 2024.

"With her ability to lead by example, Sam's guidance and influence on the team is significant and, as a result, this will be an incredible loss for the national team," he said.

"Our focus now is on ensuring she has all the support she wants and needs to navigate recovery and rehab."

Kerr is Australia's all-time record scorer with 69 goals in 128 national team appearances.

She finished second in voting for the 2023 Ballon d'Or Feminin, awarded to the best player in the world, marking her third consecutive top-three finish.

The Matildas are aiming to win an Olympic medal for the first time in Paris after finishing fourth at the tournament in Tokyo.

Chelsea, who are currently on top of the Women's Super League (WSL), said in a statement that Kerr would be assessed by a specialist in the coming days before beginning rehabilitation.

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