• Blues boss Sonia Bompastor backs Australian after not guilty verdict
• Timeline for striker’s return to playing remains unclear

Sam Kerr is training with Chelsea’s first team squad as she nears a return from a year-long injury absence, while her club coach revealed the personal toll of the recent trial on the star striker and confirmed she will escape sanction over the incident.

The Australian posted images on Instagram of herself in action at the club’s training ground alongside teammates on Thursday night. While Kerr will usually caption her posts, this one was accompanied by only a smiling emoji.