Blow for 10 as squad shapes up

AT least 10 players would have been disappointed when Anna Signeul named her squad for next month’s Cyprus Cup on Tuesday. The four-game tournament represented their best, and almost certainly last, opportunity to show the national coach they are worthy of consideration for Euro 2017.

Instead, the squad is on predictable lines. It is packed with experience, while at the other end there are well-deserved opportunities for Lee Alexander, Lizzie Arnot, Fiona Brown and Erin Cuthbert.

Alexander and Shannon Lynn were the two goalkeepers among the 21 players named – and they will be joined by captain Gemma Fay if she proves her fitness this week. Otherwise Rachel Harrison will be the third keeper.

There is a similar situation at fullback. Hibernian’s Kirsty Smith, who has a lower back injury, will take the squad up to 23 if she is fit – and failing that, Rachel McLauchlan or Nicola Docherty look set to come in.

If Fay and Smith are fit, the Cyprus Cup players are likely – barring further injuries and allowing for some tweaking – to be overwhelmingly the ones Signeul takes to the Euros.

That means the remaining players on Signeul’s long list of 33 for the championship, including Claire Emslie and Abi Harrison, are likely to have to wait for the World Cup qualifiers in the autumn to be considered. A further two, central defenders Vaila Barsley and Sophie Howard, are in the same category.

Signeul has indicated that she will experiment with a back three in one of the Cyprus games. Given the personnel available to her, that makes sense. The options in central defence are markedly better than they are at full-back.

WHAT is going to be a very long domestic season starts today with the first round of the SWPL Cup. Holders Hibs are away to East Fife, while Glasgow City travel to Perth to play Jeanfield Swifts. Celtic host Forfar Farmington.

Even allowing for a longer midseason break to accommodate Euro 2017, it’s a long, long haul until mid-November and the SSE Scottish Women’s Cup final.

RACHEL Harrison may have missed out – so far – on the Cyprus Cup, but Manchester City’s signing of Carli Lloyd holds out an intriguing prospect for the goalkeeper.

First choice Fortuna Hjorring keeper Maria Christensen is out with a hand injury so Harrison or new Norwegian signing Guro Pettersen will be between the posts when their Danish club plays English champions – and American legend Lloyd, right – in next month’s Champions League quarterfinals.