A DUMBARTON footballer is more determined than ever to kick-on with her career after earning her first call-up to the Scotland Women’s National Team.

Rebecca McAllister was stunned to receive a phone call from the squad’s head coach Pedro Martinez Losa one morning earlier this month to say her services were needed.

The conversation cued a last-minute dash to the Faroe Islands for the Hearts attacking midfielder along with Lisa Robertson as the pair were drafted in to replace injured Crystal Palace player Chloe Arthur and Rangers’ Sam Kerr.

The 19-year-old, a former pupil at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School, was an unused substitute in the next day’s 6-0 win in Torshavn, Scotland’s final group stage match of their 2023 Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign, but just being part of the squad was a thrill in itself for the teen.

Rebecca in the Faroe Islands

Rebecca in the Faroe Islands

“I had just woken up and I was about to make myself a bowl of cereal for breakfast and my phone went,” explained Rebecca, who has been capped for Scotland at under-15, under-16, under-17 and under-19 levels.

“Pedro, the head coach, said he’d liked the bits he’d seen of me playing with the Scotland under-19s just before the summer and he was impressed and wanted to give me an opportunity.

“Luckily, I wasn’t doing anything that day and I was able to go to the airport at about 4pm and get a flight out.

“It was a big surprise and a massive moment, a very proud moment, and something that I didn’t think would happen anytime soon, but it just shows that hard work pays off.

“There were some nerves because I was meeting up with players I’d previously seen playing on TV or play live but I think because it happened so quickly it didn’t really sink in until I arrived at the hotel.

“Everyone was great though and welcoming and it was quite easy to feel like you fit in quickly.

“Even just the little things like your strip being there in the changing room, doing the warm up and then standing on the touchline singing the national anthems - you really feel part of the team then and it was a great feeling.”

Following their exploits in the group stages, Scotland now face Austria at Hampden Park on Thursday, October 6 in the first round of the World Cup’s European play-offs.

Should they win next Thursday’s fixture, the Scots will then take on the Republic of Ireland in the play-off final for a spot at next August’s competition in Australia and New Zealand.

But despite the prospect of potentially gaining selection again and possibly winning her first senior cap in a crunch game, Rebecca’s mind is firmly focused on doing her best at club level.

The teen came through the youth set-up at Celtic before parting ways with the club earlier this summer when her contract expired after six and a half years with the club.

In June, she signed a permanent deal with Hearts, where she had spent part of last season on loan.

“Another call-up would be great,” she added, “but I think the main thing for me right now is making sure I’m doing well in my club team every week and trusting that other things will just fall into place.

“I think Scotland are planning to create an under-23 team soon, so I think that’s more my realistic attempt - and at the end of the day, if you are doing well opportunities will come.”