Clelland puts career on hold for country
Scotland striker Lana Clelland is delaying a decision on the next stop in her career until after her country’s next two World Cup qualifiers.
The Scots play Belarus at Falkirk Stadium on Thursday evening, and then fly out to play Poland a week on Tuesday.
A win in both would put Shelley Kerr’s side in with a great chance of at least a play-off place for next summer’s Finals in France.
Only the seven European group winners qualify, with the four best runners- up fighting it out for the final spot.
“I’ve got a few offers,” Clelland admitted after playing her last game for UPC Tavagnacco in a 1- 0 Italian Cup semi-final defeat against Brescia.
“I’ve always said I would like to play in England, but all the leagues throughout Europe are growing so much.”
Clelland has completed her third season with Tavagnacco after joining them from Spartans via a short stint at another Italian club, Bari.
She won the Golden Boot for top scorer in her second season, emulating the achievement of Ayrshire’s Rose Reilly, who won a World Cup winners’ medal with Italy and remains the only woman in the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.
Clelland was only a Scotland fringe player under previous head coach Anna Signeul.
The 25-year-old from Perth had been hoping for more opportunities when Signeul left after the Euros.
Her hopes were justified when she started in two of Kerr’s first three games – but then she fractured a bone in her heel in December and hasn’t played for the national side since.
“I can’t wait to be back with the squad again,” she said. “Obviously I was gutted and disappointed to miss out on all the six Scotland games so far this year.
“We’ve played Belarus a few times and we know what to expect. They’re a very stuffy team and they’re going to sit back and try to hold out for what they can.”
Having won the corresponding group game against Belarus 2- 1 in Minsk despite going a goal behind, Scotland will be expected to win more emphatically on home soil.
Kerr’s side are second in Group 2, having won three of their first four games.