Weir back in Scotland squad with new 'perspective'

Caroline Weir feels grateful "for a slight change in perspective" and "some of the happiest times off the pitch" after returning from a year out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury and a summer marriage.

The midfielder, 29, is back playing and scoring for Real Madrid and has returned to the Scotland squad for Friday's Euro 2025 play-off first leg away to Hungary and Tuesday's return at Easter Road.

Weir in July tied the knot with Josh Emerson, who works for Girls United, a non-profit organisation that aims to make the sport more accessible for girls and young women.

"I got married and I could plan the wedding a little bit more than I would've been able to if I was playing," she said.

"I had some of the happiest times off the pitch. There were some positives to take."

Three months on from the ceremony in the Cote d'Azur, she feels "great to be back" renewing her ties with her homeland.

"I've been looking forward to this camp for a number of weeks," Weir said. "It was by far the toughest I've had to go through in my career. There were so many ups and downs.

"Looking back, I've learned a lot. I do feel grateful for a slight change in perspective coming back."

Weir tried to remain as "balanced" and "rational" as she could as she worked her way back to fitness.

"Some days, it felt like this is totally fine, I can totally do this," she explained. "Other days, there were tough times.

"It's physically really demanding. There were so many elements to this injury. It is quite a complex surgery.

"Unfortunately, it's really common, but there’s a lot to it. It definitely wasn't a simple journey to recovery, but parts of it I enjoyed.

"I kind of enjoyed that challenge. I've been lucky that I had never been injured before. I was proud of the way I dealt with it most of the time. These things happen, it's part of sport."

Looking toward the tie with Hungary, Weir believes the 2022 World Cup play-off defeat by Republic of Ireland can "drive us on".

"I believe in this team, I believe in the squad," she added. "Everything we worked on has led us to this point.

"We really think and believe and hope that it's going to be this time."