Sam Kerr and Martha Thomas are back in a Scotland squad for the first time in almost a year. Melissa Andreatta has recalled both for next month's two-legged World Cup round one play-off against the Czech Republic, a tie that puts Scotland two rounds away from their first major tournament since 2019.
Scotland travel to Pardubice, east of Prague, on Friday 9 October, then host the return four days later at St Mirren Park. Win it and they face either Sweden or Lithuania, with a place at next summer's tournament in Brazil on the line.
Two players who had drifted out of the picture
Kerr has not played a minute under Andreatta. The Liverpool midfielder's last cap, the 34th of her career, came off the bench against the Netherlands in February 2025, and she has spent much of this WSL season out of position at right-back.
Thomas last featured in October, earning her 50th cap in a friendly defeat by Switzerland. She joined WSL2 side Newcastle United in the summer, one of three players in this squad now at the club.
Returns and departures
Freya Gregory and Como defender Sophie Howard, both of whom had to pull out of the last camp for the qualifying double-header against Israel, are available again. Celtic midfielder Maria McAneny also comes back in, having last played when she scored in a seven-goal win over Luxembourg in March.
Making way are defenders Leah Eddie and Kenzie Weir along with strikers Eilidh Adams and Laura Berry. Mia McAulay, a late addition to the June squad, keeps her place at Aston Villa.
What is riding on October
Andreatta's side are unbeaten and topped their qualifying group on goal difference, finishing a single goal ahead of Belgium. Four games now stand between them and Brazil.
The weight of that is hard to overstate. Scotland have not reached a major finals since the 2019 World Cup, missing the last two European Championships and the 2023 World Cup. Recalling two players with 84 caps between them reads like a manager deciding that experience matters more than momentum in a knockout tie.
Squad and fixtures: Czech Republic v Scotland, Pardubice, Friday 9 October; Scotland v Czech Republic, St Mirren Park, Tuesday 13 October. Winners face Sweden or Lithuania for a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Goalkeepers: Eartha Cumings (Manchester City), Lee Gibson (Glasgow City), Sandy MacIver (Washington Spirit). Defenders: Georgia Brown (Jacksonville), Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Como), Emma Lawton (Ipswich Town), Rachel McLauchlan (Newcastle United), Amy Muir (Glasgow City). Midfielders: Chelsea Cornet (Birmingham City), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Christy Grimshaw (AC Milan), Sam Kerr (Liverpool), Kirsty Maclean (Liverpool), Maria McAneny (Celtic), Miri Taylor (Aston Villa), Caroline Weir (Lyon). Forwards: Lauren Davidson (Brann), Claire Emslie (Angel City), Freya Gregory (Newcastle United), Kirsty Hanson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kirsty Howat (Crystal Palace), Mia McAulay (Aston Villa), Kathleen McGovern (Newcastle United), Martha Thomas (Newcastle United).
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