GLASGOW City and Hibernian are expected to be missing key players for tomorrow’s start of the SWPL1 season, writes Alan Campbell. City are at home to Stirling University while Hibs travel to play Rangers.
City coach Scott Booth is resigned to being without Scotland midfielders Jo Love and Hayley Lauder, while Hibs may be forced to leave out captain Joelle Murray and young right-back Rachel McLauchlan after all four were injured on Scotland duty at the Cyprus Cup.
City and Hibs also had players in the Scotland U-19 squad which played three tough games against Italy, France and Germany.
The 10-day international window added to a difficult pre-season for City as two of their scheduled friendlies were cancelled late on.
The domestic season won’t settle down until after the summer’s Euros and Booth said: “If we’re going to have a league that is interesting and quality – and keeps the fans interested – you need to have consistency of games. It’s really difficult for anybody to get into a rhythm.”
Hibs coach Chris Roberts will make a late team selection as he had seven first-team players involved with Scotland.
Rangers have still not appointed a manager more than three months after Kevin Murphy left for Manchester City, but interim appointees Andy Gardner and Peter Kennedy have done a good job.
“They are very clear about how they would take the club forward if they got the opportunity,” Roberts said. “I’m expecting a much tougher game than we had against them last year.”
Celtic midfielders Ruesha Littlejohn and Kerry Montgomery are away with the two Irelands but the latter is, in any case, suspended for the game at newly promoted Hamilton Accies.
“I’m sure they’ll be right up for it on their first game back,” Celtic manager David Haley said.
Aberdeen, who were disappointing last season, host Spartans.
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