Corsie returns as Andreatta names first Scotland squad

Recalling captain Rachel Corsie was "an easy decision" for Melissa Andreatta as the head coach named her first Scotland squad since being appointed last month.

Centre-half Corsie, who is without a club after playing her last game for Aston Villa on Saturday, has not represented the national team since July following a series of injuries.

"When you're announcing your first squad, nothing is ever straightforward, but when I started watching games and seeing the experience, the decision-making that she'll bring to this team, it was an easy decision after that," the Australian said.

The Scots round off Nations League Group A1 at home to Austria on 30 May before travelling to the Netherlands four days later.

There is also a first call up for Hibernian striker Kathleen McGovern, who has 25 goals for the Scottish Women's Premier League leaders, while Rangers captain Nicola Docherty and two club-mates - winger Brogan Hay and forward Kirsty Howat - are recalled.

Corsie, who is leaving Aston Villa this summer, told BBC Scotland's Behind the Goals podcast on Tuesday she hoped to be involved with the national squad again after returning to action as a substitute as the Women's Super League club completed their season with a 3-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.

The 35-year-old, who has 154 caps, had been national captain prior to her long-term absence, which included a period out recovering from knee surgery.

"She's Scotland through and through," the head coach added.

"She always puts this team first and that's what she made clear to me. I was happy to give her that news but I made it clear to her that she'd earned it."

Andreatta, who was Australia's assistant head coach, takes over following the exit of Pedro Martinez Losa, now in charge of Mexican club Tigres, after Scotland's failure to reach the Euro 2025 finals.

Villa forward Kirsty Hanson, Rangers defender Leah Eddie, Angel City winger Claire Emslie, Hibernian striker Eilidh Adams and West Ham United defender Kirsty Smith drop out of the squad.

Similar to their first stint in League A in 2023, Scotland have struggled in the top tier of the Nations League and have yet to take a point.

To have a chance of preserving their League A status via a play-off, they will need to beat Austria by two goals at Hampden, having lost 1-0 on matchday one at the Josko Arena.

In her first media conference earlier this month, the 46-year-old Andreatta said "anything is possible" with this squad, outlining her ambitions to guide the Scots to a first major tournament since 2019.

After sharing conversations with players who have and have not made this squad, she says she sees "a humble, hard-working group that's hungry for success".

"They have an absolute hunger to come back and represent Scotland, to take their performance to another level," she added.

"It's in their DNA it seems, because in every conversation I have, the phrase 'hard work' gets mentioned.

"I can really sense what they want to achieve and what they're willing to do in order to achieve their goal and I think that's the key part here is supporting them to achieve their goal."

Goalkeepers: Eartha Cumings (Rosengard), Lee Gibson (Glasgow City), Sandy MacIver (Washington Spirit).

Defenders: Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Leicester City), Emma Lawton (Celtic), Rachel McLauchlan (Rangers), Amy Muir (Glasgow City).

Midfielders: Chelsea Cornet (Rangers), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Lauren Davidson (Brann), Freya Gregory (Newcastle United), Brogan Hay (Rangers), Sam Kerr (Bayern Munich), Kirsty MacLean (Rangers), Amy Rodgers (Bristol City), Emma Watson (Manchester United), Caroline Weir (Real Madrid).

Forwards: Kirsty Howat (Rangers), Kathleen McGovern (Hibernian), Martha Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur).