Matildas vice-captain Ellie Carpenter has thrown her support behind Sam Kerr as the star forward turns her focus to recovering from a serious knee injury after a high-profile trial in the UK ended last week. Kerr is nearing a return to playing with Chelsea after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament more than a year ago but will miss the Matildas’ SheBelieves Cup campaign in the US this month. The 31-year-old was last week found not guilty of racially aggravated harassment for calling a police officer “fucking stupid and white” after a night out in London in January 2023 but with Kerr absent from the current Matildas squad Football Australia is yet to confirm whether she will hold onto the captaincy. “We hope she’s OK with her well being, obviously it has been a very challenging time for her,” Carpenter said. “And secondly, we really hope her rehab journey with her knee is going well and we all can’t wait to see her back on the pitch with her club. “That’s such a hard and lengthy journey, as I’ve been through as well. I really hope that she’s back on the pitch doing what she loves, and that’s going to be the best thing.” Carpenter tore an ACL while playing for Lyon in the 2022 Women’s Champions League final but recovered in time to line up for Australia in the Women’s World Cup the following year. The 24-year-old is now a leader with the Matildas and captained the national side for the first time in the build up to the 2024 Paris Olympics. The defender has earned 84 international caps since making her debut in 2016 and seen first hand the rapid rise in interest in the Matildas and the increased scrutiny that comes along with that. “Post-World Cup the Matildas were put on the map more so than before,” Carpenter said. “That’s a thing with being part of a team that was so successful. “That brings a couple of things on and off the pitch. The girls know that and we have experienced over the past couple of years that change in our lives.” The Matildas will use the SheBelieves Cup to build momentum ahead of hosting the Women’s Asian Cup next year after a mixed run of results that started with failing to progress from their group at Paris 2024. Tom Sermanni, Matildas interim head coach, has handed debuts to six players since taking the reins last year and Carpenter expects the side to again balance hopes of winning the tournament with giving opportunities to younger players. “We want to get back to the Australian way,” Carpenter said. “We want to score goals, play exciting football. “It’s great we have young players coming through. We have experienced players, and I think right now we’re at a perfect way with our depth. The young players have come in, they’ve really done well proving themselves on the international stage, and this tournament will be another great opportunity for them as well.” Australia begin the SheBelieves Cup against Asian rivals Japan on 21 February (AEDT) before facing the United States and Colombia next week.