Eilidh Shore hopes Scotland Under-23s' upcoming clash against the Netherlands in the Highlands will help inspire the next generation of players.

The Hearts midfielder has been named in Michael McArdle’s 18-strong squad to face the Dutch in a friendly at the Sarens PSG Stadium, the home of Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Having been raised in the north-east, the Aberdeen native understands the impact it can have when young fans get to see international football being played on their doorstep.

“Representing your country is always something you want to do,” Shore said. “We have had some home games now, and it’s been good to get our fans along and for them to be able to cheer us on.

“To do it up north and in a different city in Scotland, it gives a chance for younger girls to see what they could try and achieve one day, so I see it as a real positive.

“With the 23s programme coming in over the last couple of years, it has been a positive  thing and a step forward for football in Scotland, so now to have the opportunity to play across the country, it’s important because you need to see it to believe it.

“Hopefully, we can get a good number of fans out in Inverness and try to inspire the young generation.”

In recent camps, Shore and her Scotland Under-23s teammates have come up against quality opposition in the likes of Belgium, Italy and Sweden in the European friendly tournament.

The Netherlands, the midfielder expects, will be another stern test, and a demanding one that will help Scotland build on their progress.

“Each camp is just trying to get the best out of it that we can,” Shore said. “We’re competing against the best teams, and we want to be challenging ourselves against the top nations.

“That is how you are going to improve. Some of the games went well and, maybe, some not as much but it’s important that we learn from all of them.

“The Netherlands are going to be a really tough opponent, but, hopefully, one we can apply our game plan against and go and look to do well in the match.

“Playing against these sorts of teams, it has been a real step up. You learn lots of different things about yourself and about your teammates.

“I think it is just about the consistency in each performance and making sure that for the 90 minutes you are totally switched on because these teams can just punish you for any little mistake that you make.

“For us, it’s ensuring that we tidy up all over the pitch, but it’s really positive and only going to benefit us in the long run.”

And while the fixture will provide a tough test, the camp also offers an opportunity for Shore to strengthen the relationships that underpin performance.

“It has been a lot of the same players in the camps, so you get to gain an understanding of the girls you are playing alongside,” the midfielder explained. “It’s also good because you get to see how you are all progressing.

“Being able to build those relationships with the other players has been good because we don’t get a huge amount of training before we go into the games like you do at club.

“Any new players that have come in have gelled well, too. It’s a really good group and easy for anyone to come into it.

“Some players have been given the opportunity to step up to the A squad since being involved with the 23s, so seeing that is positive, as well, because that is where everyone is trying to get to.”

Fixture details:

Women's Under-23 International Friendly
Scotland v Netherlands
Monday, 2 March 2026 - 7pm kick off
Sarens PSG Stadium, Inverness

Admission to the match will be free.