Sam Kerr and Martha Thomas have been named in their first Scotland squad in almost a year, as the experienced duo return for next month's Women's World Cup round one two-legged play-off against the Czech Republic. Melissa Andreatta's side travel to Pardubice, east of Prague, on Friday, 9 October before welcoming the Czechs to St Mirren Park four days later, eyeing progression to another two-legged play-off against either Sweden or Lithuania with a place at next summer's tournament in Brazil at stake.

Liverpool midfielder Kerr - who has been playing out of position at right-back in the WSL - has yet to feature under Scotland women's Australian head coach, with the last of her 34 caps coming in February 2025 off the bench against the Netherlands, while Thomas - who joined WSL2 side Newcastle United in the summer - earned her 50th cap in October, in a friendly defeat by Switzerland.

Club-mate Freya Gregory - and Como defender Sophie Howard - who were forced to pull out of the last camp for the qualifying double-header against Israel, are also back in the squad. Celtic midfielder Maria Mc Aneny - who last featured when scoring in a seven-goal thrashing of Luxembourg in March, returns too. Defenders Leah Eddie and Kenzie Weir drop out, as do strikers Eilidh Adams and Laura Berry. Mia Mc Aulay was a late addition for the June double-header, but the Aston Villa youngster retains her place.

Andreatta's unbeaten side topped their qualifying group on goal difference - one better off than second-placed Belgium - and are now four games away from their first major tournament since the 2019 World Cup, having missed the past two European Championships and the 2023 World Cup.