Scotland team for Emirates Arena shorn of international experience

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Guy Learmonth is to spearhead an untested Scotland team at next month's Sainsbury's International Match in Glasgow after selectors were left with few proven names from which to choose, writes Mark Woods.

With Chris O'Hare about to return to the United States, and Lynsey Sharp and Eilidh Child in training camps elsewhere, the new head coach Rodger Harkins will count on only one Great Britain internationalist -- the relay specialist Jamie Bowie -- as he prepares a side to take on Great Britain & Northern Ireland, France and Germany at the Emirates Arena on January 24.

Young prospects Kirsten McAslen and Zoey Clark will be among those handed a chance to pick up valuable experience against some of the sport's bigger names. Sarah Warnock, Ray Bobrownicki, Diane Ramsay, Greg Louden and Grant Plenderleith are others with Glasgow 2014 experience named so far.

"There are one or two who missed out on the Commonwealth Games who will see what it took last summer to qualify and will be starting to think about Gold Coast 2018," said Harkins. "It is a chance for them, and indeed all the athletes, to push themselves forward. I am hoping that we will see some good signs of individual development. For the athletics public in Scotland, I think it is a good opportunity to see people they know from our clubs and from national events competing in an international context. That should be exciting as we take on three strong countries in GB, France and Germany."