Emma Hayes, Sam Kerr's former manager at Chelsea, has confidently stated that the striker will return to her "very best" once she's back on the field.
Since tearing her anterior cruciate ligament during a Chelsea training session in January last year, Kerr has been out of action.
The injury has also coincided with her recent legal controversy, where she was found โnot guilty' by a London court after being charged with racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.
"I love Sam Kerr โ I'll always love Sam Kerr," Hayes, who is now the US National team coach, said to reporters post-game.
"She's amazing, and I'm sure she will find another step to be the very best Sam Kerr."
The Matildas are still in search of their first win in the current SheBelieves Cup, following a 4-0 defeat to Japan on Friday and a 2-1 loss to Hayes' own US team.
"One of the hardest games to play in football is to play the team that just got thrashed," Hayes said.
"They've got a lot of pride, and they're a top side and rarely does it happen twice, so after the first couple of minutes, when we went 1-0 up, one or two things (could have) happened.
"Either that team falls apart, which they didn't. I thought they recovered really well, particularly after the first 20 minutes.
The question remains whether the 31-year-old Kerr will reclaim the Matildas' captaincy upon her return to the team.
In a statement posted to social media after her not-guilty verdict, Kerr expressed that her focus was firmly on football.
"I am fully focussed on getting back on to the pitch and looking forward to an exciting year ahead for me and my family."
