Hibs pair called up as new Scotland coach Kerr names squad

Hibernian midfielders Rachael Small and Lucy Graham are among four players not taken to Euro 2017 who have been included in Shelley Kerr’s squad for the friendly in Hungary on 14 September.

Kerr, who has replaced Anna Signeul as Scotland head coach, has just one game to shape her side before World Cup qualifying starts in October. She has also brought in Celtic goalkeeper Megan Cunningham and Manchester City forward Claire Emslie.

“We want to take on a long-term strategy,” said Kerr, pictured, who will have former Queens Park Rangers striker Andy Thomson as her assistant. “The average age of the squad is 25-26, so it’s a good time to put our philosophy in place. It’s about getting the balance right between winning and developing. We want to try to excite the nation with the way we play. It won’t be possible all the time because there are so many variables in sport, but we’re really keen to put our strategy in place and be a flexible, dynamic team.”

Kerr’s best player, Kim Little, is one of five who are unavailable. As with Hibs forward Lizzie Arnot, Little has an ACL knee injury and will miss the World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Albania.