SCOTLAND'S players convene for a five-day training camp in Edinburgh on Monday. Head coach Shelley Kerr says her preference was to use the international window in this manner rather than play a friendly.

Captain Rachel Corsie and winger Clare Emslie won't be involved. Both play in the United States and have games today, while Emslie's club, Orlando Pride, has another on Saturday. Rachael Boyle is rewarded for much hard work with a return to the Scotland set-up for the first time since the birth of her daughter twelve months ago.

The rabbit out of the hat, though, is 23-year-old West Ham striker Martha Thomas. Born in Dorset, but having moved with her family to Florida at the age of six, the player has triple international options as she qualifies for Scotland through her mother.

Thomas's debut WSL goal for West Ham earlier this month – she signed in July following a brief stint at French second tier side Le Havre – suggested both a game intelligence and willingness to attack the ball in the air inside the opposition box. The latter, especially, would be an asset for Kerr as her side rarely take advantage of set piece deliveries from Caroline Weir and Kim Little.

Having been alerted by former Scotland assistant coach Angie Hind of the striker's Scottish eligibility, Kerr has been tracking Thomas for two years. An ACL injury put paid to any possibility of an earlier introduction, but she joined Le Havre in January and was scouted in a cup tie against Paris Saint-Germain. The move to West Ham put her firmly back on the radar.

“We've done a lot of research on her,” Kerr confirmed. “She's definitely one who I think will add value to our squad. I'm really excited about her coming into the camp next week – and she is as well. She's not like any of our other strikers.

“She's also got leadership qualities and that's great in a young player. Five days training is something we don't normally have, so I'm looking forward to seeing how she is.”

Thomas played three games for the USA U23 side against NWSL teams earlier this year. Nevertheless, having committed to the training camp, she will presumably sign up for Scotland if both sides are happy with what develops this week.

“I'm hopeful she'll want to have her allegiance with us rather than anyone else,” Kerr confirmed. “It's a good opportunity for Martha to come in and see how she feels about it.

“I'm sure England will be looking at her as well because she's a very good player. If she has options elsewhere that's up to her – but I'm giving her an opportunity and if she likes what she sees she can add value.”

SCOTLAND have played only two home friendlies since Kerr replaced Anna Signeul after Euro 2017 – against the USA last November and Jamaica in May's World Cup send-off game at Hampden.

As earlier pointed out, this week's international window would have been an obvious opportunity to play a third – and perhaps build on the increasing support for the national team – but the head coach decided there was more value in the training camp.

“Because we went straight into a (Euro) qualifying game after the World Cup I was keen on this option,” Kerr pointed out. “We did look at getting a game, but I felt it would be a good time for us to work on things on the pitch over five days.”

GLASGOW City will know their Champions League last-16 opponents on Monday when the draw is made in Nyon. This time they are unseeded and the options include holders Lyon, Barcelona (who beat them at the same stage last year), Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Slavia Praha, who beat Hibs 9-2 on aggregate in the last 32.

Scott Booth was full of praise for his players after they beat Russian side Chertanovo 4-1 on Thursday night and 5-1 on aggregate. There was an outstanding performance, and goal, from Rachel McLauchlan, but the former Hibs player, who some regard as a possible solution to Scotland's right back problem, has not been included in this week's Scotland training camp.