The forthcoming week will be a very difficult time for me, as my team mates fly out to Holland to participate in this year’s Champions League qualifiers…
…while I will continue my rehab from knee micro fracture surgery back here in Scotland.
For the second season in a row we have been drawn in what has been dubbed the ‘group of death’. Last year we had two other last 32 sides in our group of four, therefore we didn’t expect to land as tough a draw again. Once again we come face to face with the Croatian Champions who we played last year, to add to that we were drawn alongside the Dutch side Twente Enschede.
Of course we are the number one seeds in the draw and will have to live up to that tag to get into the last 32. I know the girls will be very well prepared and I’m hopeful I can get over to lend my support.
It has now been almost four months since my operation, the first six weeks are the most frustrating as I had to hobble about on crutches. Once off the crutches then it was about learning to walk again, I kid you not, it felt strange to put weight on my left leg again. My rehab started slowly, however, I quickly went from basic movements to pace walking. Two weeks ago I was given the go ahead to start jogging, it was only for a minute at a time but it felt that I had at last started my journey back to fitness. Over the past week I have slowly built up the duration of my jogs and allied to my gym work at the institute of sport I believe I will return a fitter, stronger and more appreciative person.
Last week saw the final of the Women’s European Championships in Sweden and once again Germany came out as winners. In football there is little time to celebrate as the World Cup qualifiers begin next month. Just like my club side, Scotland have been drawn in a tough group, not quite the group of death that my City team mates from the Republic of Ireland have to face but nonetheless still a 
tough draw.
Our first game is away to the Faroe Islands followed by a home tie to Bosnia and Herzegovina four days later. We will then face Northern Ireland and Poland in October and I am hoping we will top the table with full points as we enter the New Year.
Sadly, I won’t be able to play any part in these games, but the depth of quality in the squad now means we have no reason to be concerned with who isn’t playing anymore. During this campaign we will be favourites for all the games bar when we play Sweden.
I am sure there will be plenty of City team mates in the squad and they along with the Arsenal players know the pressure of having to play as favourites on a weekly basis. In our last two campaigns we have come so close to qualifying and it was particularly heartbreaking in Madrid to go out as we did.
Our conquerors Spain managed to have a good tournament in Sweden and were knocked out in the last eight by eventual finalists Norway. In my opinion this confirms the progression that has been made in Scotland at both domestic and international level. After the two previous disappointments hopefully this is third time lucky.
Follow Emma on Twitter: @EmmaFernon15
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