Sandy MacIver switches to Scotland from England and is in Nations League squad

Goalkeeper Sandy MacIver has switched her allegiance from England and has been named in Scotland's squad for their Nations League games this month.

The Manchester City 25-year-old has one England cap and has regularly been the back-up to first-choice Mary Earps.

But she pulled out of England's Finalissima squad in April then ruled herself out of this summer's World Cup.

Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa has named MacIver in his 23-player squad to face the Netherlands.

MacIver, who has represented England from Under-17 level, was born in Winsford but qualifies for Scotland through her father.

Martinez Losa said the switch by MacIver - whose one game for Sarina Wiegman's England was a friendly against Northern Ireland in February 2021 - had been the result of "different chats over the last year".

He thought other eligible players were watching the Scotland set-up and thinking "positive things are happening".

"It was her initiative," Martinez Losa said. "She really felt the desire to play for Scotland for different reasons and one main reason was her heritage from her dad."

MacIver follows Amy Rodgers in switching her allegiance to Scotland after the former England Under-21 midfielder was named in Martinez Losa's squad for friendlies against Northern Ireland and Finland in July.

Rodgers, now with Bristol City, has been named in Martinez Losa's latest squad along with recent debutants Amy Gallacher of Celtic and Rangers' Kirsty Howat.

Jenny Smith, the 21-year-old Celtic midfielder, is included for the first time after a strong start to the season following her move from fellow Scottish Women's Premier League club Heart of Midlothian.

Her opportunity comes with Real Madrid's Caroline Weir and Manchester United's Emma Watson having suffered serious knee injuries during the last international break and Bayern Munich's Sam Kerr also missing out this time.

Rosengard goalkeeper Eartha Cumings is another injury absentee, but Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert returns after missing the matches against England and Belgium, while Kathryn Hill of Rangers and Liverpool's Jenna Clark are also back.

West Ham United winger Lisa Evans will reach the landmark of 100 caps if she features in either of the matches against the Netherlands - in Nijmegen on 27 October and at Hampden four days later - as Scotland seek their first win in the competition.

Scotland are bottom of their group after two games but are only three points behind leaders Belgium, who face England.

Martinez Losa's side narrowly lost to England in their Nations League opener before drawing at home to Belgium.

Goalkeepers: Jenna Fife (Rangers), Lee Gibson (Glasgow City), Sandy McIver (Manchester City).

Defenders: Jenna Clark (Liverpool), Rachel Corsie (Aston Villa), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Katheryn Hill (Rangers), Sophie Howard (Leicester City), Rachel McLauchlan (Rangers).

Midfielders: Fiona Brown (Rosengard), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Lisa Evans (West Ham United), Christy Grimshaw (AC Milan), Kirsty MacLean (Rangers), Jamie-Lee Napier (Bristol City), Amy Rodgers (Bristol City), Jenny Smith (Celtic).

Forwards: Lauren Davidson (Glasgow City), Claire Emslie (Angel City), Amy Gallacher (Celtic), Kirsty Hanson (Aston Villa), Kirsty Howat (Rangers), Martha Thomas (Tottenham Hotspur).