Emma Watson: Rangers midfielder, 17, called up to Scotland senior squad
- Published
Emma Watson has broken into Rangers' first team this season
Seventeen-year-old Rangers midfielder Emma Watson has been called up to Scotland's senior squad for the first time for two April friendlies.
Rangers captain Kathy Hill and London City Lionesses forward Sarah Ewens also earned their first call-ups.
Pedro Martinez Losa's Scotland face Australia in London on 7 April before hosting Costa Rica four days later.
Glasgow City's Amy Muir and fellow defender Rachel McLauchlan, of Rangers, return to the squad.
Muir, McLauchlan and Hill will provide extra defensive cover in the absence of captain Rachel Corsie, the Aston Villa centre-half who requires surgery on a knee injury.
Celtic defender Kelly Clark, West Ham United midfielder Lisa Evans, London City Lionesses winger Jamie-Lee Napier, Crystal Palace midfielder Chloe Arthur and Bristol City forward Abi Harrison drop out of the squad that played in February's Pinatar Cup.
"She's a talented player and we have others too so we are looking forward to provide these opportunities," Martinez Losa said of Watson. "But we don't want to add too much pressure.
"She's been given the opportunity because she deserves it, because of her performances on a regular basis, but especially in the last match against Celtic."
The Scotland head coach also confirmed the women's national side will continue to train at Oriam, the national performance centre in Edinburgh that Scotland men's assistant John Carver called a "health risk" after the side opted to train at Queen's Park's Lesser Hampden facility for their recent camp.
Martinez Losa says he has been told improvements are under way and the team will return to Oriam following their camp in Bath for the upcoming friendlies.
"Oriam is our home base and identity for the team is very important," he said. "The players feel good in terms of the environment and how we feel there.
"There have been moments when the pitch needed a little improvement. I'm aware Oriam has been putting in the resources and tools for that and I'm looking forward to see what has been [done]."
Scotland squad
Goalkeepers: Eartha Cumings (Liverpool), Jenna Fife (Rangers), Lee Gibson (Glasgow City).
Defenders: Jenna Clark (Glasgow City), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Kathryn Hill (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Leicester City), Rachel McLauchlan (Rangers), Amy Muir (Glasgow City), Emma Mukandi (Reading), Kirsty Smith (West Ham United).
Midfielders: Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Lauren Davidson (Glasgow City), Samantha Kerr (Rangers), Christie Murray (Birmingham City), Emma Watson (Rangers), Caroline Weir (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Fiona Brown (Rosengard), Claire Emslie (Angel City), Sarah Ewens (London City Lionesses), Christy Grimshaw (AC Milan), Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa, on loan from Manchester United), Brogan Hay (Rangers), Martha Thomas (Manchester United).