Scotland women can use the "elation" of the men's play-off with Israel to boost their own Euro qualifying bid, says head coach Shelley Kerr.

The 50-year-old has named a strong squad for qualifiers at home to Albania on 23 October and away to group leaders Finland four days later, her team's first matches since March.

Experienced forward Lisa Evans of Arsenal misses out with a calf injury.

"Hopefully we can give the country something to cheer," said Kerr.

"We've got a great opportunity on Thursday night with the men's team to get a positive result. There's an air of excitement about the game.

"That elates the whole country and hopefully we can feed off that and get a positive result against a really good Albania team and then against Finland."

Scotland have won their first two matches in Group E, but have not played since a series of friendly wins over Northern Ireland, Iceland and Ukraine seven months ago.

Evans has missed Arsenal's past two matches through injury, and Kerr described her absence as "devastating".

"Lisa, off the back of a hat-trick in her last Arsenal game, has a calf injury that will keep her out," she added.

"Lisa is a great character, a fantastic person. I talk about team dynamic, she's the one who glues it all together so we'll certainly miss her."

The group winners and three best runners-up qualify directly for the rescheduled Euro 2021 finals in England in 2022, while the six further second-placed teams advance to play-offs.
Squad

Goalkeepers: Lee Alexander (Glasgow City), Jenna Fife (Rangers), Shannon Lynn (Vittsjo GIK)

Defenders: Jen Beattie (Arsenal), Rachael Boyle (Hibernian), Rachel Corsie (Birmingham City, on loan from Utah Royals), Nicola Docherty (Rangers), Hannah Godfrey (Tottenham Hotspur), Sophie Howard (Leicester City), Emma Mitchell (Reading), Kirsty Smith (Manchester United)

Midfielders: Chloe Arthur (Aston Villa), Leanne Crichton (Glasgow City), Lucy Graham (Everton), Samantha Kerr (Glasgow City), Kim Little (Arsenal), Christie Murray (Birmingham City), Caroline Weir (Manchester City)

Forwards: Lizzie Arnot (Rangers), Erin Cuthbert (Chelsea), Claire Emslie (Everton, on loan from Orland Pride), Abbi Grant (Birmingham City), Kirsty Hanson (Manchester United), Jane Ross (Manchester United), Martha Thomas (West Ham United)