JULIE FLEETING admits that sitting in the commentary box analysing Scotland's 2015 World Cup qualifying matches was a huge factor in her decision to return to international football.

"I enjoyed the radio work, but it was very hard to sit back and watch," the 34-year-old admitted. "I was sitting in the stand with Radio Scotland but wanted to be on the pitch and back in amongst it."

Fleeting, who has two young daughters, has been added to the Scotland weekend training camp which gets underway today. Some of the younger players were barely born when the striker made her Scotland debut, aged 15, against Wales in 1996.

"I'm just looking forward to the camp and hoping it doesn't look like someone has brought their mum to training!" Fleeting joked. "I'm going back for the first time in three and a half years so I'll take each stage as it comes.

"I feel I'm returning with a totally different perspective. I'm now at an age when I fully realise just how fantastic it was to be part of a team and play for Scotland.

"I wouldn't want to come back and not play at the level I did for Scotland before. I'm doing strength and conditioning four mornings a week as part of a sportscotland Institute of Sport programme and feel I'm at the same level as the other Scotland players.

"It's now all about games and football training because I missed the whole second half of last season through injury. This weekend will be my first taste of football for over six months."

Fleeting, who until her injury problems had hoped to time her comeback for last October's World Cup play-off matches against the Netherlands, scored 116 goals in 120 games for Scotland - but says she won't set herself further strike targets if she does add to her cap tally.

Some of the Scotland players who are with clubs abroad, including Seattle Reign's Kim Little and Turbine Potsdam's Lisa Evans, will miss the training camp. Jenny Beattie, who has joined Manchester City from Montpellier, is also with her new club.

Another missing is Rachel Corsie, who is believed to be on the brink of a move overseas after leaving Notts County. Two other players, central defender Eilish McSorley and under-19 internationalist Zoe Ness, have moved to Sweden, joining Mallbackens IF.

Five of the training camp squad, including Fleeting and Scotland captain Gemma Fay, have yet to find new clubs ahead of the new season which starts in March. Goalkeeper Fay was among many players who left Celtic in the winter and she said: "I have been in talks with a couple of clubs and am just deciding what the best thing for me is.

"Anna knows my position and is quite comfortable with it."

The most glaring absentee from the training camp is holding midfielder Megan Sneddon. The 29-year-old has been an ever-present in the Scotland side for the last ten years but was bitterly disappointed not to be selected for the World Cup play-off matches against the Netherlands in October.

Sneddon criticised coach Anna Signeul's selection and tactics in an interview with her local newspaper, and also hinted that she wouldn't play for Scotland again. She was unavailable for comment yesterday.