Weir excited for Scotland's 'new chapter'

Weir has scored 18 goals in 106 Scotland appearances

Women's Nations League, League A, Group 1: Austria v Scotland

Where: Innviertel Arena, Ried When: Friday 21 February Kick-off: 17:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch on BBC Sport website & iPlayer, plus follow text updates on BBC Sport website & app

Caroline Weir is excited to embark on "a new chapter" when Scotland begin their new Nations League campaign away to Austria on Friday.

A hugely disappointing 2-0 second-leg defeat by Finland in December ended the Scots' dreams of reaching Euro 2025, meaning they have not qualified for a major tournament since 2019.

Pedro Martinez Losa was relieved of his head coach duties following another international disappointment, and interim boss Mick McArdle has gone in a new direction for matches against Austria and the Netherlands this month.

He has made nine changes to the squad beaten by Finland, including six uncapped players as Scotland look to move on from their failure in Helsinki.

There are first call-ups for Celtic defender Emma Lawton, Hearts midfielder Eilidh Shore, Hibernian forward Eilidh Adams and Newcastle United midfielder Freya Gregory, who represented England at youth level.

Goalkeeper Erin Clachers and Rangers' teenage winger Mia McAulay are also included.

"It's exciting," Real Madrid midfielder Weir said. "It definitely feels like a new chapter. I'm looking forward to it.

"I speak on behalf of all the staff as well as the players, that [previous] campaign and the disappointment hit everyone really hard.

"It was really difficult because I genuinely believed that we were going to do it. I don't think there's much more we could have done."

Weir is excited by the new-look nature of the Scotland squad for this camp, and is relishing her role as a leader amid plenty of new faces.

The 29-year-old made her international debut in 2013 and has made 106 appearances for her country, scoring 18 goals.

"It's weird, I look around and I'm one of the older players now and it feels like that's just happened so quickly," Weir added.

"I'm supported by other senior players, of course, Claire [Emslie], Lee [Gibson], Erin [Cuthbert], unfortunately she's not here this time. But there are leaders.

"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."