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Scotland Under-17 squad to face Wales

Pauline MacDonald has named her Scotland Women’s Under-17 squad for a friendly double-header against Wales next month.

The Scots will travel south for two games as they look to shake off a COVID-19-disrupted year and make up for lost time.

They are building towards the 2021-22 UEFA Women’s Under-17s EURO Round Two, League B Group 2 campaign in March, which will see Scotland take on hosts Albania, Azerbaijan and North Macedonia.

Back in September, MacDonald’s side were forced to withdraw from the Qualification Round of the UEFA Women’s Under-17s Championships following a number of positive COVID-19 tests within the squad. They were due to take on host nation Netherlands, Slovenia and Czech Republic until the cruel twist of fate.

Fresh from a productive training camp on Scottish soil, MacDonald and the players alike are determined to bounce back from a reluctant period in cold storage.

She told www.scottishfa.co.uk: “It’s been a very, very challenging time for this group of players after working so hard across the summer months.

“We played two very competitive games against Hearts because we couldn’t get an international challenge match, as a result of travel restrictions. We were in camp for two days, had the outbreak and that ruled us out of the qualification phase.

“That was the first UEFA tournament in 18 months, so it was a real blow to the players and staff. To have to explain to them that so much had changed within the space of 12 hours was tough.

“Now we’re really excited by the prospect of being able to play the two games in Wales. They’ll represent a real challenge for the players, as the Welsh squad have played seven games – four friendlies and three qualification games – against some top sides. It’s a first real test for this group.”

Scotland Under-17 squad:

Eilidh Austin (Rangers), Mya Bates (Glasgow City), Tiree Burchill (Hamilton Academical, on loan from Celtic),  Kiera Chuter (Celtic), Leigha Dobbins (Celtic), Maddie Finnie (Aberdeen), Lily Graham (Spartans), Georgia Gray (Rangers), Brodie Greenwood (Aberdeen), Kayla Jardine (Rangers), Elise Macara (Boroughmuir Thistle), Kirsty MacLean (Rangers), Lisa Maher-Rodgers (Heart of Midlothian), Mia McAuley (Rangers), Annalisa McCann (Aberdeen), Jodi McLeary (Rangers), Niamh Noble (Glasgow City), Olivia Potter (Celtic), Leah Sidey (Spartans), Rebecca Taylor (Rangers), Millie Urquhart (Aberdeen), Emma Watson (Rangers).  

The double header of matches against Wales under-17, who are managed by Loren Dykes, will start at Denbigh Town FC on Tuesday 8th February (KO 6pm), with the second match taking place at Colliers Park on Friday 11th February (KO 1pm).

The matches will also prepare the Wales side for their 2022 UEFA #WU17EURO Qualifying Round 2 matches in April. Wales will face hosts England, Iceland and Belgium in League A.

Meanwhile, Nic Anderson’s Wales Under-19s will also face Scotland on Tuesday 15th February (6pm, at Denbigh Town FC) and Friday 18th February (1pm, Colliers Park).

Anderson will use the matches as preparation for the side’s 2022 UEFA #WU17EURO Qualifying Round 2 matches in March. Wales will face hosts Armenia, Turkey and Latvia in League B.

The matches will be played behind closed doors, with invites for family and friends to attend the fixtures at Denbigh Town.