Jodi McLeary: These Games Are Competitive and Tough

JODI MCLEARY is relishing the league split getting underway as domestic football returns tomorrow.

The final 10 fixtures of the SPWPL season are now locked in, as Rangers start their busy three-game week with a trip to the capital to take on Hearts at the Oriam.

Speaking to the official Rangers website, looking ahead to the business end of the campaign, she commented: “I love playing in these types of games. I have been part of it in the last couple of seasons, and I know how competitive it is and how tough each game is.

“Come Sunday against Hearts, it is going to be no different.

“We are just taking each session and day as it comes, hopefully come Sunday, we put on a performance that gets us the three points to start it off.

“We have got a lot of experience here and players who have experienced the split.

"We have been sure to tell the girls that maybe they aren't so familiar with what it is like and how demanding it is going to be.

“It is important that we all look after our bodies now, because obviously coming into the three games it is going to be really demanding and tough, but we have got a squad and that is what it is for, to rotate and we have got players no matter what XI gets put out we know that we will be able to do a job.

“The two games we have played against them [Hearts] have been really difficult.

“They have always been a team that is really tough to break down, and they like to control the ball and play football.

“We have got a game plan, we have worked hard, and the staff have worked hard over the international break as well as the players that have been here, we will be ready to go.”

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Jodi McLeary 27 Scotland Flag

The youngster had an enjoyable international experience recently with a first-ever call-up to the Scotland A squad, saying she learned so much from her time away and has made her hungry for hopefully more to come in the future.

She continued: “It was obviously a really good experience going away with the senior squad.

“I was meant to be going away with the Under-23s initially and had joined up with them, and then got the call to go to the A squad.

“It was really special and something that I have always wanted, hopefully it is the first of many, and I just need to keep working hard here and hopefully reap the success.

“It was really nice, I think I was more shocked than anything.

“I had been training with the squad prior to going away with the 23s, and then obviously getting the call to say that I was going to be joining the likes of players that I have looked up to for a long time.

“Even just looking at the way that they do prep stuff. The way that they train, move the ball, is something that I can really look at and aspire to be like.

“I have obviously still got a lot of room to grow, and just learning off people like that can only help me.”

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220226 Rangers WFC vs Montrose, Jodi McLeary 131

In a busy month for the squad, which will be rounded off with the Sky Sports Cup final on March 29, the midfielder spoke of her own form and how these challenging fixtures coming up will prepare the Gers for that occasion at Fir Park.

She added: “One thing that I said at the start of the season was I wanted to be consistent in performances, and I feel like I have managed to do that so far.

“Getting the call-up has really given me a lot of confidence as well, going into the split that I can hopefully grab this opportunity and do the best that I can.

“We have been in that position many times before, and come the cup final, it is no different.

“All the games coming up before that are so important and must be won if we want to have any chance of winning a league title.

“The cup final is a special occasion, and hopefully we can get as many fans there as possible.”


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