SCOTLAND head coach Shelley Kerr admitted there is an inevitability about fewer domestic players being in her squads after selecting just four out of 23 for the final 2019 World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Albania.
The figure has to be the lowest for any Scotland international squad, and to compound matters just two are outfield players – Glasgow City midfielders Jo Love and Leanne Crichton. Their team-mate Hayley Lauder would have been selected if fit, as would the Hibernian captain Joelle Murray, but even so the lack of domestic representation is striking.
The Group 2 qualifers against top seeds Switzerland on August 30 and Albania five days later are the most important Kerr has faced since replacing Anna Signeul after last summer's Euros. A two-goal win over the group leaders in Paisley, followed by a victory of any margin in Shkoder, would guarantee a place in next year's finals in France.
The Scots have won five of their six games, the only blemish being the 1-0 away loss to the Swiss in April.
Eight of Kerr's players moved to new clubs in the summer. They included the Hibs duo of Lizzie Arnot and Kirsty Smith, who signed for Manchester United, and attacking midfielder Christie Murray, who switched from Glasgow City to Liverpool. While damaging for the domestic game, Kerr cannot be blamed for so predominantly choosing players who are training daily in a fully professional environment.
“It has taken that direction over the last couple of years,” Kerr said of the switch to a squad of players who are mostly with English clubs. “It was only a matter of time, because ultimately the players are striving to be the best and want to do that in a more professional environment.
“We're always communicating to the players how important it is to be playing regularly at the highest level and I'm pleased with the decisions they have made.”
Five other players in Kerr's squad moved in the summer, most of them to higher-rated clubs. Prominent were Caroline Weir, who switched to Manchester City from Liverpool and Lana Clelland, who signed for Fiorentina after three seasons with another Serie A club, Tavagnacco.
With Hibs' Murray a medium-term injury casualty, Kerr has made just one change to the squad which beat Belarus and Poland in the two previous group games. Durham striker Zoe Ness comes in for Lauder, who missed all three of Glasgow City's recent Champions League qualifying games with a calf strain.
Ness scored 19 goals in just 25 games for the Scotland under-19 side. and scored her first senior international goal in the home qualifier against Poland after coming off the bench. She was unlucky to be omitted for the next squad.
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