Scotland get the new year underway with a trip to Linz to take on Austria in the UEFA Women’s Nations League. It’s the first time the two sides have met since the FIFA World Cup play-offs in October 2022.

Scotland’s return to ‘League A’ was secured in the summer following an unbeaten run in the group stages of the UEFA Women’s European qualifiers. Disappointment against Finland in December resulted in Scotland’s first defeat in 10 competitive games and also brought hopes of qualification for this summer’s European Championships to an end.  

Scotland Women’s National team are unbeaten against Austria, the most recent a 1-nil victory in 2022 courtesy of a late Abi Harrison header to secure the win and progress to the World Cup play-off final.  

Austria go into the game with 4 wins from their last 10 matches and under new leadership with Head Coach, Alexander Schriebl at the helm.

Team news

10 changes were made to the squad that travelled to Helsinki in December. Nicola Docherty, Jenna Fife, Emma Mukandi, Kelly Clark, Shannon McGregor, Brogan Hay, Amy Rodgers and Jamie-Lee Napier make way for Erin Clachers, Leah Eddie, Amy Muir, Emma Lawton, Kirsty Maclean, Eilidh Shore, Freya Gregory, Mia McAulay, Lauren Davidson and Eilidh Adams.

Erin Cuthbert has withdrawn due to injury.

Pre-match thoughts

Scotland captain, Caroline Weir: "We’re really looking forward to getting back out there and getting the new cycle underway. As a group, we’re all really hungry to get back to winning ways.

“We were on a great run last year which obviously came to an end in the most devastating way.

“We have a freshness in the group with lots of new faces and with that comes a new energy which is really exciting.

On her own development into a senior role: “I'm one of the older players now and it feels like that's just happened so quickly. I'm of course supported by other senior players in the squad, like Claire Emslie, Lee Gibson, Erin Cuthbert, unfortunately she's not here this time. But there are leaders in this group.

"I also think it's an opportunity for other players that have been in and around the squad for four, five, six years now to step up and I'm sure they will and really help the new players settle in."

Where to watch

Watch live on BBC Alba | KO 5pm UK