Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has revealed that Sam Kerr was substituted during the 7-0 win over Everton on Sunday due to a calf problem.

The Australian international was actually suffering from illness in the build-up to the game at the weekend but Hayes says the striker was well enough to start before picking up a minor injury:

“Sam was sick last night. She decided to play but her calf was cramping up so we decided to take her out.”

Kerr did get on the scoresheet before she was forced off the pitch. Guro Reiten had already put the home side 1-0 up after 12 minutes, while Kerr then doubled the lead at the midway point of the first half. Just minutes later, the 29-year-old was replaced by Pernille Harder.

The change certainly didn’t affect Hayes’ team with Harder scoring the third, before Sophie Ingle and Jessie Fleming made it four and five before the break.

Harder was seemingly determined to make the most of her chance after replacing Kerr, as she got her second ten minutes before the end and Erin Cuthbert rounded out the scoring by bagging the seventh in stoppage time.