Scotland v Netherlands: Erin Cuthbert warns her return is 'no magic potion' for hosts
Nations League, Group A1: Scotland v Netherlands |
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Venue: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Tuesday, 30 October Kick-off: 19:45 GMT |
Coverage: Watch live on BBC Alba and BBC Sport website; live text online. |
Erin Cuthbert declared herself "fit and ready" to return to action with Scotland but warned she is not the "magic potion" that will single-handedly defeat the Netherlands.
The Chelsea midfielder missed Friday's 4-0 defeat by the same opponents in Nijmegen but will start Tuesday's return game in Nations League Group A1.
The Scots sit bottom of the table and Cuthbert reckons "it's crunch time".
"I am just coming in to add to what we've got," she said.
"I feel good - I wouldn't be here if I wasn't feeling 100 per cent, but I am not going to come in and be the magic potion for what the team needs. We've got to be better as a team first and foremost."
Scotland are still missing three other key defenders - Real Madrid's Caroline Weir, Bayern Munich's Sam Kerr and Manchester United's Emma Watson - and Cuthbert says she was "frustrated" having to sit out a second Scotland camp for the first time in her career.
"We are under no illusions it is going to be a tough game - it was a tough night on Friday night," she said. "But there are also moments when we know we can do better.
"We can get closer to them and put them under a bit more pressure. Anybody can look world class when they are under no pressure, so we need to put them under more pressure."
Cuthbert believes Friday was just "a wee bump in the road" after a creditable performance in their narrow, group-opening defeat by England and then a draw with Belgium.
"We want to show our DNA and what we're all about," she said. "Standing up and being brave and that includes on and off the ball.
"We want to be aggressive and show our character of getting on the ball. I don't think we're miles away. It is crunch time -it's about getting some points on the board."
Team news
Cuthbert is likely to start on her return to the Scotland squad, but head coach Pedro Martinez Losa remains without those three other key midfielders through injury - Weir, Kerr and Watson.
Dutch boss Andries Jonker has a welcome selection dilemma - whether to hand a start to Vivianne Miedema after the Arsenal striker made her return from injury as a substitute on Friday or stick with the side that produced such a dominant performance.
What they said
Scotland head coach Pedro Martinez Losa: "We expect a reaction from the team and we expect a better performance, but we also understand the level of the opponent is very high.
"We feel we are still progressing. The reaction of the group is positive and to be more united."
