- Dua Lipa was gifted a personalised Matildas jersey
- Music sensation has been performing in Australia
- Sam Kerr also at Matildas training on light duties
The Matildas have managed to recruit a high-profile fan in music sensation Dua Lipa – on the same day Sam Kerr was embraced by supporters who didn’t get to see her doing any meaningful training during her long-awaited return to the pitch Down Under.
Veteran Kyah Simon gifted the London-born performer the team’s new jersey, which featured her name and number 25 on the back.
It came as Kerr, 31, joined her teammates at Sydney‘s Leichhardt Oval on Tuesday, but to the disappointment of many, the striker didn’t take part in any training drills as she continues her recovery from an ACL injury sustained in January of 2024.
The captain did some light stretching and a few laps – but off the field, Kerr was front and centre, with close to 2000 supporters welcoming her with open arms.
Kerr was spotted posing for countless photos and signed jerseys at the fan day, as she is eased back into the fold.
In what was her first involvement with the national team since October 2023, the 31-year-old appeared to be lapping up the moment.
The Matildas have recruited a very famous new fan in music sensation Dua Lipa (pictured left, with Kyah Simon)
On Tuesday, close to 2000 supporters made their way to Leichhardt Oval to watch the Matildas train – and Sam Kerr was the star attraction (pictured)
Alanna Kennedy and Sam Kerr were spotted having a laugh together at Leichhardt Oval
She was also spotted laughing with defender Alanna Kennedy, with the pair long time teammates in the green and gold.
Ahead of matches against South Korea in Sydney on Friday, then in Newcastle on Monday, the squad are staying in Sydney’s east, with Kerr having breakfast with Caitlin Foord, Mackenzie Arnold and Kennedy at the exclusive Bills eatery on Tuesday.
Kerr posted a photo of the get-together to Instagram with the caption: ‘Back with me girlies.’
She has been brought into the Matildas camp in a mentor role – with the blessing of her WSL club side Chelsea.
On Monday Kerr received the welcome news that she will be reinstated as Matildas skipper.
It follows her recent court saga in London, where Kerr was found not guilty on one charge of racially-aggravated harassment of a police officer.
Kerr spoke of her ‘regret’ for the incident, with the FA board concluding it warranted no further action.
She was charged after calling a police officer ‘f***ing stupid and white’ late in an hour-long altercation at Twickenham police station in the early hours of January 30, 2023.
Sam Kerr was all smiles as she reunited with her Tillies teammates near the team’s base in Sydney’s east on Tuesday ahead of two matches against South Korea
The striker caught up with her close friends and teammates Caitlin Foord (left) and Alanna Kennedy while sporting a compression sleeve on her injured right knee
Kerr’s Instagram post showed how happy she was to finally be reunited with her close mates after being out of action since January last year
That followed a taxi journey which went sour when a drunk Kerr vomited out of the window.
The altercation with police turned heated after it became clear the officers did not believe Kerr and fiancée Kristie Mewis’s version of events.
Both were adamant they were being kidnapped – and feared for their lives.
Football Australia were blindsided when Kerr’s charge came to light in March 2024.
On Monday, FA noted the incident had ‘implications’ in relation to its code of conduct, but stopped short of saying Kerr had breached it.
