Arsenal duo Kim Little and Jen Beattie and Aston Villa midfielder Chloe Arthur have pulled out of the Scotland squad for the upcoming UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 qualifiers against Albania and Finland.
Shelley Kerr’s side take on Albania at Tynecastle on Friday evening before travelling to Helsinki to face Finland four days later.
It has this morning been confirmed that Arsenal pair Little and Beattie and Aston Villa’s Arthur will not be part of Kerr’s 25-player squad. The trio have all pulled out and have been replaced by Zoe Ness, Rachel McLauchlan and Amy Muir.
Little has been sidelined for a few weeks after picking up a hamstring injury. The player has resumed training but was not fit to feature in Arsenal’s matchday squad for yesterday’s North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at Meadow Park and will not be risked representing her country.
Centre-back Beattie played the full 90 minutes against Spurs but has presumably picked up a knock which has put an end to her international hopes while midfielder Chloe Arthur has been part of an Aston Villa group who have been dealing with the repercussions of positive Covid-19 tests in the camp within the last fortnight. It is unknown whether Arthur is carrying an injury or whether the situation at her club has come into the equation.
The Scottish FA have confirmed the squad changes via their official Twitter account this morning.
#SWNT Squad Update:
IN: Zoe Ness, Rachel McLauchlan, Amy Muir.
OUT: Kim Little, Jen Beattie, Chloe Arthur. pic.twitter.com/taY68Uisob
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) October 19, 2020
Scotland go into the latest round of qualifying matches in second position in their group, four points behind leaders Finland. Kerr’s side have played two games less and will go top of the group with back-to-back victories over Albania and Finland in the next eight days.
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