SHELLEY Kerr hopes the attraction of the world's best women's football team will lead to a record Scotland crowd for the second time in 10 weeks. Kerr's side play the United States at Paisley's Simple Digital Arena on November 13.
The fixture was instigated by the current World Cup holders and Fifa world ranking leaders, reflecting Scotland's qualification for the last two major championships and growing status in the game. The sides could conceivably meet again in next year's World Cup in France.
“Qualification for the World Cup, and the world champions want to play you on your home patch – it doesn't get any better,” Kerr enthused.
“It's a showcase and a chance for everyone who supports the women's game to see some of the best players in the world live.
“It says a lot that they want to play us. They're not coming here for the sunshine, that's for sure. It also gives our players the opportunity to get all the plaudits they rightly deserve after a physically and mentally draining qualifying campaign.
“We had a record crowd (of 4098) for the Switzerland game at the end of September. The atmosphere was electric.
"If all the supporters who turned up for that game bring someone else with them we'll get another record attendance.”
Scotland will be without Kim Little, who scored in the 2-1 win over Switzerland and had notched ten in just nine games for club and country prior to fracturing a fibula playing for Arsenal against Chelsea earlier this month.
It followed a two-footed lunge from behind by Drew Spence and Kerr said: “In my opinion it was a bad tackle. Kim was back to her very best before the injury, and she will come back again for sure.
“She is a strong, strong person. Her will and desire to be the very best shines through all the time. I know Arsenal will look after her.”
Defender Sophie Howard is also out with injury and the two replacements, who are returning from their own mishaps, are Hibernian captain Joelle Murray and Glasgow City midfielder Hayley Lauder.
The Scots have played the United States four times since 2002 – with Kerr playing in the first of these games, an 8-2 drubbing at the Columbus Crew Stadium.
The three other games were also lost, but by much smaller margins.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here