ANNA Signeul’s declaration that she will give up-and-coming players a chance to stake their claim for Euro 2017 selection can only help Scotland’s prospects in a tournament upon which so much depends.

The Swede has lined up 10 preparation games with the squad setting out tomorrow for friendlies against Denmark in Cyprus, and she has pledged to give opportunities to realistic candidates in the first six or seven. She says the side she wants to play in the Group D opener against England in Utrecht on July 19 will only be firmed up after the last of four Cyprus Cup matches in March, or the following month’s friendly in Belgium.

For the last three years, 10 players have been virtually guaranteed places in the Scotland side when fit, amassing an astonishing total of 1087 caps between them. They are Gemma Fay, Frankie Brown, Ifeoma Dieke, Jenny Beattie, Hayley Lauder, Rachel Corsie, Jo Love, Kim Little, Lisa Evans and Jane Ross. Goalkeeper Captain Fay, whose international debut was in 1998, leads the way with 195; midfielder Love has 172.

As with Fay, Love and central defender Dieke were in the side before Signeul replaced Vera Pauw in March 2005. The least capped, with 52, is Bayern Munich forward Evans, and she made her debut in 2011.

It is inconceivable Signeul can learn anything new about these players. Further, it is likely that some of them – including Fay and Dieke, who are both 35 – will retire from international football after the Euros. The transition for the World Cup qualifiers, which start only a month later, could be difficult if new players aren’t brought in now.

The challenge is to identify those who can add value to the side immediately and go on to become just as loyal to Scotland as the players they will be replacing. Fay, Love and squad player Leanne Ross have all reached more than 100 caps despite also holding down full-time day jobs.

Liverpool’s Caroline Weir, 21, who was third top scorer in FA WSL1 last season, is at the head of the new order, having started in four of the eight qualifiers. Hibernian full-back Kirsty Smith, who is the same age but misses the trip to Cyprus with a back strain, also started four but will now have to fight off Frankie Brown, who is available again after injury. Smith has grown in confidence steadily and has good athleticism and pace – increasingly a necessity for wide players at elite international level.

Central defender Joelle Murray and midfielder Leanne Crichton also filled in during the qualifying campaign but, with 80 caps between them, are hardly unknown quantities.

At the top of the pitch, Lana Clelland is top scorer in Serie A with 12 for Tavagnacco. She played just 34 minutes in the eight qualifiers and seems set for game time against Denmark, especially as she is one of the few players who will be match fit.

Fiona Brown, having now made a full recovery from her second ACL injury, should also feature in Cyprus and could be in the side for the Euros.

Two other young attackers, Lizzie Arnot, 20, and Claire Emslie, 22, will also want to make a mark against the Danes, as will 18-year-old Erin Cuthbert. All were stand-outs in the age-group international teams. Emslie disappeared off the radar when she went to university in Florida, but her six months at Bristol City have had her manager there, Willie Kirk, raving. “She doesn’t care about reputations and should make a big impact with the squad in Cyprus,” he said.

Signeul also has to decide whether two of her better players, Corsie and Love, were shown to best advantage in the qualifying campaign. Corsie plays in central defence for Seattle Reign, but was pushed up to one of the two holding midfield positions in the Euro group.

Conversely, Love is a central midfielder for Glasgow City, but was played out wide in the three behind striker Ross. The fact that Fiona Brown, Arnot and Emslie are all more specialised attacking wide players also has to be factored in.

As well as personnel, Signeul has to decide on a formation. Having been welded to a 4-4-2 for her first 10 years in charge, she switched to 4-2-3-1 for the Euro qualifiers.

It got the job done, but few of the performances set pulses racing. The best was saved for last when the coach switched to a 4-4-1-1 for the win over group winners Iceland in Reykjavik.

Signeul gave a strong hint she will be dispensing with the 4-2-3-1 when announcing she has already decided Little will play in central midfield, rather than her previous No 10 role.

“We want to make sure we are very strong in the centre,” she said. “Kim can cover a lot of ground and be a ball winner. We will lack a little bit in attack if we do that, but with the teams in our group we need to be very good defensively.”

In that regard, goalkeeper is potentially the most troublesome position. Fay looks certain to be the Euro keeper, but faces a challenge at Glasgow City from Lee Alexander. If Scott Booth goes for the latter as his No 1 an obvious problem arises.

Long-term deputy Shannon Lynn wasn’t the first-choice keeper at her club, Vittsjo last season, and nor is the third goalkeeper in the Cyprus party, Rachel Harrison, at Fortuna Hjorring. Two others are also in contention – Alexander and Celtic’s Megan Cunningham.

The Euros could, conceivably, be Signeul’s sign-off as national coach. She has agreed a new contract, but only for seven months, saying it suited both her and the Scottish FA to keep it short instead of encompassing the next World Cup qualifiers.

While she was, with some justification, criticised for not giving fringe players more game time in 2016, it is also true, that Scotland played less matches than usual thanks to former performance director Brian McClair’s absurd decision not to play in the Cyprus Cup.

It is to the credit of the SFA that they have, this time, backed Signeul in her desire for a 10-game build up which will afford ample opportunities to make up for lost ground.