KERR’S JOY AS SCOTS WOMEN GIVEN WORLD CUP CASH INJECTION...

SHELLEY KERR has vowed Scotland’s women footballers will be in peak condition for their World Cup debut next summer after securing government funding to train full-time.

head coach Kerr saw her side clinch qualification for the finals with a 2-1 victory in Albania three weeks ago.

Nineteen of the 23 players in that squad are professionals, but the government’s £80,000 intervention will allow all players to train full-time from January.

Kerr insists it is a well-earned reward for Scottish-based players, who often have to fit other jobs around representing their country.

‘They can now train like professionals,’ she said. ‘They already do that with their commitment, but they haven’t had an opportunity to get the right rest and recovery.

‘Some of them are juggling full-time education or full-time employment. Now they can equip themselves as best they possibly can for the World Cup.’

Kerr (right) knows a first appearance on the global stage brings heightened pressure but believes her players can deliver.

‘There is no doubt the players over-achieved by qualifying,’ she said. ‘The expectation is that we can compete now, but that comes with the territory.

‘The support and goodwill from the nation — even people who haven’t watched the sport before, how it’s inspired them, inspired kids to watch football and men to follow the female game — it’s been a long time since we’ve qualified for a World Cup and it shows how people feed off that.’

hibs defender Joelle Murray will benefit from the full-time funding and believes the team will develop off the pitch as well as on it.

Murray said: ‘There is a fantastic team bond but, obviously, there are some players who train in the west and some in the east. Training together will increase that bond, it’s a massive benefit.

‘Making the World Cup is massive for grassroots football in this country — if this doesn’t inspire a generation, I don’t know what will!

‘We got a taste at the euros, it made us hungrier to achieve that every two years. That’s now the benchmark — we want to be at every tournament.’

Another beneficiary is hayley lauder, whose 92-cap career includes club spells playing professionally in Cyprus, Finland and Sweden.

lauder then joined Glasgow City, Scottish champions for the last 11 seasons, in 2014 and believes the national team’s success could inspire a move towards domestic teams going full-time, as england’s Women’s Super league did this season.

‘The long-term goal is a professional league, but we’re realistic,’ she said. ‘In england, they’re doing it right with a steady build-up of the league structure and resources.’

Kerr, who also managed Arsenal from 2013 to 2014, added: ‘We have got a really competitive domestic environment.

‘hibs and Glasgow City are neck and neck in the league, while Glasgow could make the Champions league last 16.’

‘We can’t get ahead of ourselves. That (going professional) can be a disaster. We need to make sure the model fits Scotland.’

Glasgow City take a 2-0 advantage into tonight’s Champions league last 32 second leg clash with Somatio Barcelona of Cyprus at Petershill Park, Glasgow (7.30pm).