Rangers Women set for boost as Megan Bell leads international heroics in December
The international break couldn’t have come at a much worse time for Jo Potter and her Rangers side, as the Light Blues have gone from strength to strength this season.
Rangers sit top of the Scottish Women’s Premier League, one point ahead of Celtic in second after 14 matches and are set to meet their Old Firm rivals in the semi-final of the Sky Sports Cup, having beaten Boroughmuir Thistle in the quarter-final.
Things couldn’t be going much better for Potter’s side currently and she will be hopeful that her team can return from the international break in similar form after an impressive period for the national players in her side.
Megan Bell managed to score only minutes after coming on in Northern Ireland’s 4-0 Nations League win over Albania on Friday 1 December. The 22-year-old will be returning to Glasgow full of confidence having found the net.
In the Wales camp, Rachel Rowe played the full 90 minutes of their Nations League defeat to Iceland, having four shots on goal as the away side came away 2-1 winners on Friday evening.
Nicola Docherty started Scotland’s 1-1 draw with Belgium, with the left-back playing the full 90 minutes and Kirsty Maclean played 69 minutes before being replaced for the closing stages.
On top of that, Rachel McLauchlan and Jenna Fife were named on the substitutes bench, while Brogan Hay wasn’t named in the matchday squad.
In the Scotland youth ranks Jodi McLeary, Chelsea Cornet and Kirsty Howat all featured in the under-23’s clash with the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the Dutch side came out on top in a 3-1 win, with Scotland’s only goal coming courtesy of an own goal.
There is another round of international fixtures to be played but the members of Rangers’ squad that have played over the international break will be crucial to their development.
Rangers are going to need all their players to be at their best as they fight Celtic for the title this season. Having a team with plenty of international experience will only help Potter and her side as they navigate the next few months.
In other Rangers news, Derek Ferguson and James McFadden have clashed over Todd Cantwell and whether or not he’s the Gers’ “best player”