RACHEL McLAUCHLAN'S move to England in January failed to win a coveted place in Scotland's World Cup squad, but her new head coach, Scott Booth, hopes that will change for Euro 2021 qualifying.
McLauchlan signed for Glasgow City on Thursday, four days after her 22nd birthday. She made her Scotland debut at 19, and was barely 20 when she started the Euro 2017 game against Portugal in Rotterdam.
At that point the athletic right-back looked the natural successor to Frankie Brown, who, when fit and regardless of form, had been the automatic choice under Anna Signeul. But it hasn't happened for McLauchlan, whose only caps since Shelley Kerr replaced Signeul after the Euros were in low-key friendlies against Norway and Russia 18 months ago.
Kerr, a former defender, knows her players better than anyone, but right-back remains the most problematical position for the national team. Sophie Howard, Kirsty Smith and Chloe Arthur have all been given chances to claim the position, but none has made a fully convincing case.
Howard, who conceded the fatal penalty against Argentina in Paris, has more obvious defensive qualities than the other two, but is more naturally a centre-half. Arthur, meanwhile, plays further forward for Birmingham City.
McLauchlan has been highly regarded by all her club coaches, including Allan Smith, who brought her from Inverness to Aberdeen in 2014. She moved to Hibernian two years later when she joined the performance academy and won all her seven caps while at the Edinburgh club.
Celtic tried to sign the player last winter but she chose instead to join Yeovil Town, presumably on the basis that a move to the FA WSL might improve her chances of going to the World Cup. Instead she found herself involved in Yeovil's administration two months later, and as a result of their financial difficulties the club has since been demoted to the third tier of English football.
“It's great we've been able to entice someone who has been playing down south, and would probably have been able to stay down south,” Booth said.
The signing, on a professional contract, has been widely applauded and the 12-time Scottish champions have acquired a player who is equally comfortable in a more forward position, having done so for both Hibs and Yeovil.
“She can play anywhere on that right hand side. She's got pace, is technically very good, and sends over good crosses.
“I'm happy to play her further up the park, but in the more competitive tougher games coming up, including the Champions League, I think she would be an ideal full-back. She will have the opportunity to show how good she is.
“The right-back position in the national team hasn't been nailed down by anybody, so for Rachel it's definitely a target to try and get herself back in there again.
“I hope she will eventually get the opportunity to get back into the Scotland squad. She is a really professional girl, works hard and listens. If she plays the football we know she can, I think she has every opportunity.”
THE changes at Rangers, which were flagged up here a fortnight ago, have now been announced with the club's former left-back Gregory Vignal replacing Amy McDonald as head coach. The latter has been promoted to women's and girls' football manager, and will be in charge of recruitment.
The first team will now play their games on grass at the Hummel Training Centre in Milngavie, while plans to put some players on professional contracts should be revealed soon.
THE Scotland U19 side get their European Championship underway on Tuesday when they host France in Paisley. Thereafter it is Norway at Firhill on Friday and back to Paisley for Netherlands a week tomorrow.
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