Jodi McLeary Steps In for Maria McAneny in Scotland Squad
Share
Jodi McLeary Joins Scotland Squad as Maria McAneny Steps Aside
The Scotland women’s football team has announced a significant change in their squad ahead of the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Belgium. Rangers midfielder Jodi McLeary has been called up to replace Celtic’s Maria McAneny, who will miss the fixtures due to injury.
Key Highlights
- McLeary replaces McAneny in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers.
- McAneny has two international caps but missed a crucial derby match.
- Scotland is currently leading Group B4 after two wins.
- The double header against Belgium is set for April 14 and April 21.
The 21-year-old McAneny, who has earned two caps for her country, was unable to participate in Celtic’s recent 3-0 defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Women’s Premier League. In that match, McLeary took on an unfamiliar role at right-back, helping her team secure a vital victory and move to second place in the league.
While McLeary has represented Scotland at youth levels, she is yet to make her debut for the senior side. Her call-up is a testament to her growing reputation and the depth of talent within Scottish women’s football.
Scotland’s head coach Melissa Andreatta expressed confidence in the squad as they prepare to host Belgium at Easter Road Stadium, Edinburgh, on Tuesday, April 14. The second match will take place at Den Dreef Stadium in Leuven the following Saturday. Both teams have won their opening two fixtures, with Scotland sitting atop Group B4 on goal difference, having comfortably defeated Luxembourg, while Belgium also secured a win against Israel.
This upcoming double header is pivotal for Scotland’s aspirations in the tournament. With both sides performing well in their qualifying campaigns, the matches promise to be highly competitive.
The full Scotland squad for these matches includes:
- Goalkeepers: Cumings (Manchester City), Gibson (Glasgow City), MacIver (Washington Spirit).
- Defenders: Brown (Jacksonville), Clark (Liverpool), Docherty (Rangers), Eddie (Rangers), Howard (Como), Lawton (Celtic), Newsham (Charlton Athletic), McLauchlan (Brighton & Hove Albion), Muir (Glasgow City).
- Midfielders: Cornet (Birmingham City), Cuthbert (Chelsea), Davidson (Brann), McAuley (Rangers), Maclean (Liverpool), McLeary (Rangers), Taylor (Aston Villa), Weir (Real Madrid).
- Forwards: Adams (Hibernian), Gregory (Newcastle United), Hanson (Aston Villa), Howat (Crystal Palace), McGovern (Hibernian).
For more details on the matches and the squad, you can check out the coverage on BBC Sport.
