KIM Little and Jennifer Beattie will be available for next month's Euro 2017 qualifier against Macedonia next month despite having joined Australian W League club Melbourne City on loan.
The pair flew from Istanbul to join their new club after Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Macedonians in Skopje. The return game at St Mirren Park should be a formality for Anna Signeul's side, but the coach confirmed that both players were anxious to make the long trip home.
Beattie's loan move from Manchester City was officially announced by the Australian W League club yesterday (fri). Melbourne City and Manchester City are both owned by the City Football Group, which also has a club in New York.
"It's a new challenge for me and one I am really looking forward to," Beattie said. "The similarities between the clubs will definitely help me to settle quickly. I just can't wait to get started."
While Melbourne City are an established men's club, their women's team was only admitted to the W League this season, becoming the tenth side to be admitted to the franchise.
Even without Little, Beattie and other international stars they have won their first two games to go top of the league. Last weekend's win was in the inaugural derby match against Melbourne Victory.
Jess Fishlock, a team-mate of Little's at Seattle Reign who also had a loan spell at Glasgow City in 2013, joined Melbourne City as player-coach earlier this week.
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