Scottish players will be selected for Great Britain women’s football team at next year’s Olympics in Tokyo, Phil Neville has said.

The England coach has been picked to lead the team in Japan next summer and said he has already made contact with a number of Scotland players regarding selection.

Players including Jamie-Lee Napier and Kirsten Reilly are the latest of a number of Scotland players to move to the growing Women’s Super League. Both women, as well as Kim Little, Lisa Evans, Erin Cuthbert and Caroline Weir have been sighted by Neville as potential options.

“I’m looking at a lot of the Scottish players,” Neville said. “We played them in the World Cup and it was one of our toughest games.”

Neville also praised Scotland manager Shelly Kerr, describing her as a “fantastic coach” who has contributed greatly to an “ever-improving nation.”

The Scottish FA have said they will not prevent its players from taking part in the competition, but refuse to actively associate or endorse the team. Similarly, Wales have also declared that they will not support or promote the side.

This would not be the first time Scottish players represented Great Britain. During the 2012 Olympics in London, Kim Little and Ifeoma Dieke were both selected, whilst Jane Ross was also called up as a reserve.

Now though, Neville believes even more Scottish players are beginning to make an impact.

“The Scottish league is growing,” he said. “There are some really good exciting young players coming through.”

The Tokyo Olympics gets underway on the 24th July 2020, so women from across England, Scotland and the rest of Britain still have time to impress Neville, before he decides his squad.

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