SCOTLAND captain Rachel Corsie is temporarily without a club, but believes her knee injury will have healed in time to return for international duty next month.

The central defender was released on Wednesday by Seattle Reign, where she enjoyed three successful seasons. Not the best news at any time, but even more difficult in the wake of the minor operation which leaves her having to prove her fitness to interested clubs.

On a more positive note, the 28-year-old is a free agent and doesn’t have to wait for a transfer window to find a new employer. And Corsie remains upbeat.

“I would like to stress everything has gone extremely well,” she says of her post-operation period. “I’m recovering on schedule to be back playing for the New Zealand games.

“The treatment I’ve received in Scotland has been fantastic, and that has really driven me on. The first couple of days and weeks are pivotal to how well you can progress – and I’ve been grateful for that support.

“From a club perspective there are good options I’m considering, but right now the focus is to get back playing.”

The meniscus problem forced Corsie to withdraw from the Scotland squad which travelled to La Manga for the Norway and Russia friendlies, but while they were there she notified head coach Shelley Kerr that the operation had gone according to plan. Her absence meant two starts for Hoffenheim’s Sophie Howard who did well, but a Scotland back four always looks at its most organised with Corsie involved.

The chartered accountant was taken to Seattle in 2015 by Laura Harvey but as is often the case when a head coach departs, was vulnerable after Harvey left in November to join Utah Royals. Her successor, Vlatko Andonovski, has brought in his own players, including Danish defender Theresa Nielsen.

Corsie, who started her career with Aberdeen and was a long-time captain of Glasgow City, moved to Seattle after a season at the now-defunct Notts County. A return to the FA Women’s Super League must be an option, while the management at the Scottish champions, who parted company with three central defenders over the winter, would presumably be desperate to have her back.

THE departure of Stewart Regan as chief executive of the Scottish FA has been widely commented upon, but next to nothing has been said about his impact on the Scotland women's team. In their timeline of his successes and failures, BBC Scotland failed to even mention the historic qualification for Euro 2017 – while, of course, recording the various qualifying failures of the men's team.

That was particularly remiss, because Anna Signeul always said Regan's arrival in July 2010 was quickly followed by a culture change within Hampden. Whereas there had been overt hostility to women's football from some in the organisation up until then, the new chief executive made the building a better place to work for those involved in the sport.

The Englishman also made a point of attending Scotland matches whenever he could, and always had a wry smile when he recounted tales of Signeul barging into his office demanding more resources. He couldn't oblige more often than not, but by being encouraging and inclusive Regan can take some reflected credit for the upward curve of Scottish women's football.