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Sam Kerr's continuing heroics for quadruple-chasing Chelsea have inspired a remarkable tribute from her club manager.
Sam Kerr has been hailed as "a wonderful athlete and wonderful human" in a glowing tribute from her admiring Chelsea boss.
Australia's captain is playing the best football of her increasingly storied career, according to the Women's Super League champions' manager Emma Hayes.
And it is that sparking form that could well carry the Blues to a quadruple of trophies this season.
It was Kerr's brilliance that ensured Chelsea came away from a potential WSL title decider at Manchester City on Wednesday with the 2-2 draw that keeps her side on course to retain the title with just two games left.
Not only did she power in her 18th goal of the season with a bullet header to take the lead in the race to win the WSL's golden boot as top scorer.
The Matildas superstar also produced a dazzling, outside-in run into the City area that ended with her being brought down by the opposition goalkeeper, winning the crucial penalty that Pernille Harder converted.
The latest tour de force left Hayes offering a beaming post-match tribute on BBC TV.
"Sam Kerr - what a player!" she said.
"She's relentless.
"A wonderful athlete and wonderful human.
"She delivered the biggest moments for the team when it mattered most and she's doing it time and time again."
Her goal demonstrated why Kerr's the best header of the ball in the women's game.
It was her eighth headed league goal of the season - twice as many as any other player.
"It's just the quality of the header," Hayes said.
And the way she won the penalty?
"That's just brilliant running... It's not just her timing, it's her temperament.
"She's such a big game player, she relishes these moments and I'm so thankful she's in our dressing room."
Kerr's performance made Hayes reflect on criticism the Australian received in her early days at Chelsea last August when the Blues' big-money signing missed three sitters in their Community Shield success.
"It's ludicrous to think that people were saying what they were saying about Sam," Hayes said.
"This is a player that was creating chances for fun. Maybe not finishing at that point, but you have to respect the ease at which she used to go beyond players.
"Now, she's got the whole package."
At 27, Kerr is in her prime and she will again be key when Chelsea face Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Women's Champions League semi-final on Sunday.
Already League Cup winners, two points clear in the WSL and in the FA Cup fifth round, the European title appears the Blues' toughest hurdle in the quadruple quest.
With Kerr - already the all-time top scorer in Australian and US women's club football and now firing in England - likely to have a major say in the outcome.
