Sam Kerr Matildas return: Tom Sermanni says captaincy discussion is 'irrelevant' ahead of SheBelieves Cup

Everyone is talking about Sam Kerr - except, seemingly the Matildas themselves.

Kerr’s status as captain looms over the national team despite the superstar’s ongoing absence through injury, ahead of their first games since her high-profile trial.

Interim coach Tom Sermanni, speaking for the first time since Kerr was found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment in the UK last week, says he and the playing group haven’t formally discussed Kerr’s situation.

Football Australia last week issued a statement supporting Kerr, but didn’t reference whether she would face sanctions under its code of conduct and ethics, or if her captaincy would come under question.

Sermanni insists whether Kerr retains the captaincy is “irrelevant”, given he may not be in charge when she returns, which won’t be until at least April’s friendlies against South Korea.

“The most important part is we get Sam healthy as quickly and as safely as possible, and get her back on the field,” he said on Thursday, ahead of Friday’s SheBelieves Cup opener against Japan.

“To be honest, and particularly in relation to me, the captaincy issue is kind of quite irrelevant, because by the time she comes back into the team I might not be here.

“So there’s really no point in me commenting on that ... really, from my perspective, from the team’s perspective, it’s something that’s really not that relevant at the moment.

“And to be honest Steph Catley’s stepped in as captain and done a fantastic job. So for us it’s just getting on, getting prepared for this tournament this week, and again looking forward to 2026.”

Sermanni confirmed he and Kerr had been in touch via text since her trial finished.

But he was clearly frustrated after multiple questions regarding the captaincy, including whether he would be comfortable with Kerr retaining the role.

“How that decision gets made, who makes it, and who’s all involved in it, I really don’t know at the moment because it’s really completely and utterly not part of our focus. Because at this minute in time, Sam is injured,” he said.

“She’s been injured for 13 months, hasn’t played an international for 16 months, and the team is just getting on with its normal business.

“So it’s not part of the conversation. When and if it does become part of the conversation, then I’ll know more about how that process works.”

If Kerr returns while Sermanni is still in charge, he would feature in any potential captaincy discussions.

“If there are going to be discussions then I would obviously be involved in them, because I’d be involved in any discussions around the team that impact the team and impact players,” he said.

“So if that was to happen and any decisions were made, then obviously I would be party to that decision making process.”

Football Australia’s search for Tony Gustavsson’s permanent replacement has dragged beyond six months.

Sermanni remains uncertain how long he will remain at his post but suggested likely “between now and the middle of this year, there’ll be somebody else in the hot seat.”

For now, he is charged with preparation for next year’s home Asian Cup.

That starts with an imposing SheBelieves Cup opener with Japan in Houston on Friday morning AEDT, before games against the United States and Colombia.

The Nadeshiko have a new coach, Nils Nielsen, with former Young Matildas coach Leah Blayney his assistant.

“He might just add a few different things, but I don’t expect Japan to come out and play much differently than when they normally play,” Sermanni said.

“I just hope they have an off day.”