Sam Kerr at the double in Chelsea Cup win

Sam Kerr has rediscovered her predatory touch after a lean spell by her soaring standards, scoring her first goals for Chelsea in 2022 during their 7-0 thrashing of Leicester in the Women's FA Cup.

The Matildas captain landed her double, and also made two other goals, at Kingsmeadow on Saturday as holders Chelsea powered into the quarter-finals of the competition that they won at Wembley in December thanks to another brace from the Australian.

The 28-year-old hasn't enjoyed the best of form in recent weeks, blaming herself for missed chances against South Korea as Australia bowed out of the Women's Asian Cup and failing to hit the target in two matches for the champions on her return to England.

But this was the sort of afternoon to restore any lost confidence as Chelsea, inspired by Pernille Harder, who scored twice herself and assisted on three other goals, ran riot after the 17th minute straight red card for a reckless challenge by Leicester's Sophie Howard.

Against the 10 players of struggling Women's Super League side Leicester, there was never any doubt about the outcome with the Dane Harder striking twice before halftime, the second coming courtesy of Kerr's unselfish lay-off.

Harder repaid the favour on the hour, setting up Kerr to fire home Chelsea's third and the Australian struck again with her team's sixth in the 82nd minute, poking home from close range from Canadian Jessie Fleming's pass.

Kerr, who also spurned a few chances to have made it a hat-trick, finished her afternoon by laying on the final goal for Beth England

Chelsea, who also had Ji So-yun and Aniek Nouwen join the goal fest after the break, were particularly glad to see Kerr, currently the WSL top scorer again with nine, back in business before