Scotland Women's squad: Interim boss Michael McArdle makes 10 changes in first squad with six uncapped players included
Emma Lawton, Eilidh Adams, Eilidh Shore and Freya Gregory - who played for England youth - picked for first time alongside uncapped Erin Clachers and Mia McAulay; Leah Eddie, Kirsty Maclean, Amy Muir and Lauren Davidson return for Nations League openers
Thursday 6 February 2025 13:59, UK
Interim women's boss Michael McArdle has picked six uncapped players in a new-look Scotland squad for this month's Nations League matches.
There are a total of 10 changes to the group from last time out, with Celtic defender Emma Lawton, Hibs forward Eilidh Adams, and midfielders Eilidh Shore of Hearts plus Newcastle's Freya Gregory - who has played for England at youth level - all in the senior squad for the first time.
Meanwhile, Hibernian goalkeeper Erin Clachers and Rangers forward Mia McAulay are back in the group as they look to make their debut.
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Familiar faces return too with Rangers defender Leah Eddie and midfielder Kirsty Maclean included in the squad again, as is Amy Muir of SWPL leaders Glasgow City.
Striker Lauren Davidson - who is now playing for Norwegian side SK Brann - is also named in the 24-player squad.
Nine of the group that failed to beat Finland in their Euro 2025 play-off final drop out, including Rangers duo Jenna Fife and Nicola Docherty, Celtic's Kelly Clark and Shannon McGregor, Bristol City pair Jamie-Lee Napier and Amy Rodgers, plus Emma Mukandi, Lisa Evans, and Brogan Hay.
McArdle, whose remit at the Scottish Football Association involves working with the women's youth teams, was appointed to the top role last month while the search continues for a permanent successor to Pedro Martinez Losa, who departed after failing to qualify for Euro 2025.
Scotland visit Austria in their opening Nations League game on February 21 before taking on the Netherlands four days later at Hampden Park.
Asked if he felt there was a new generation coming through at the level that can return Scotland to major tournaments, McArdle said: "The exciting thing is I don't just feel it. I've been living it for the last two years.
"Our U17s, U19s, U23s, not just the way we work and we play, but also the characters that are there as well, coming through the pathways.
"It's exciting. The next three, four years will be an exciting moment for us all to see the work that everyone puts in across the game.
"I've got real positive feelings about the future. It was a good opportunity just now to reward players for their efforts, they've earned the right to be considered.
"And also it's been really difficult selecting the squad, which is a real positive for us all.
"There's depth, a talent there, so really just an opportunity to be fresh, try something and take us in the direction that we need to qualify for tournaments. So this is the start of it.
"It's exciting with the pathway and the talent that's coming through the pathway just now, but also exciting that our talent ID over the last couple of years is being invested in, and we've worked really hard identifying talent that's not just here domestically.
"So it's been exciting to look ahead and see that talent coming in that makes that a broader selection process as well.
"Age is irrelevant. It's form, competition, potential and who's right at the right time to make sure that we can consistently be the best."
Scotland squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Erin Clachers (Hibernian), Eartha Cummings (FC Rosengard), Lee Gibson (Glasgow City)
Defenders: Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Leah Eddie (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Leicester City), Emma Lawton (Celtic), Rachel McLauchlan (Brighton & Hove Albion), Amy Muir (Glasgow City), Kirsty Smith (West Ham United).
Midfielders: Chelsea Cornet (Rangers), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Freya Gregory (Newcastle United), Sam Kerr (Liverpool), Kirsty Maclean (Rangers), Eilidh Shore (Hearts), Caroline Weir (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Eilidh Adams (Hibernian), Lauren Davidson (SK Brann), Claire Emslie (Angel City), Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa), Mia McAulay (Rangers), Martha Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur), Emma Watson (Everton).
