Scotland women’s midfielder Leanne Crichton has bemoaned the loss of three key players, including Arsenal’s Kim Little, ahead of the UEFA Women’s European Championships.

Anna Signeul’s side are without Kim Little, Jen Beattie and Lizzie Arnot for selection ahead of their first major tournament finals. Scotland are in Group D, alongside Spain, Portugal and England. They’ll have a tough task to progress without the trio and Crichton had her say:

“I think it’s huge – any team at the Euros would miss players like Kim, Jenny and Lizzie. The good thing is we have got a bit of strength in depth in the squad now,” Crichton said.

Manchester City defender Beattie is sidelined with an ankle injury, while both Hibernian striker Arnot and Arsenal midfielder Little have sustained ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligaments.

“There are certainly quality players that have been brought in because of their absences, and I think those players along with myself will show it’s about the squad and what we can do collectively,” Crichton was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

Little is already on her way to recovery after successful surgery and is positive about Scotland’s chances in the Netherlands despite a depleted squad.

“It’s obviously a blow to miss [the tournament], especially when I was initially told. It was easy to accept because I knew I had no chance [of recovering from the injury in time]. It’s devastating but it gives someone else an opportunity and I look forward to watching my team-mates.”

Scotland’s first tournament fixture is against none other than Mark Sampson’s England side on July 19.