Scotland have recalled Sam Kerr and Martha Thomas for next month’s Women’s World Cup round one play-offs, with the experienced pair named in a squad for the first time in almost a year.
Melissa Andreatta’s side meet the Czech Republic over two legs, travelling to Pardubice, east of Prague, on Friday, 9 October before hosting the Czechs at St Mirren Park four days later. The winners progress to a further two-legged play-off against either Sweden or Lithuania, with a place at next summer’s tournament in Brazil at stake.
Kerr, a Liverpool midfielder who has been playing out of position at right-back in the WSL, has yet to feature under the Australian head coach. The last of her 34 caps came in February 2025, when she came off the bench against the Netherlands.
Thomas, who joined WSL2 side Newcastle United in the summer, earned her 50th cap in October, in a friendly defeat by Switzerland.
Also back in the fold are Thomas’s club-mate Freya Gregory and Como defender Sophie Howard, both of whom were forced to pull out of the last camp for the qualifying double-header against Israel. Celtic midfielder Maria McAneny returns as well, having last featured when she scored in a seven-goal thrashing of Luxembourg in March.
Defenders Leah Eddie and Kenzie Weir drop out, along with strikers Eilidh Adams and Laura Berry. Mia McAulay, a late addition for the June double-header, retains her place.
Andreatta’s unbeaten side topped their qualifying group on goal difference, finishing one better off than second-placed Belgium. Scotland are now four games away from reaching their first major tournament since the 2019 World Cup, having missed the past two European Championships and the 2023 World Cup.
Squad in full:
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).