Joelle Murray back from injury as TV history is made in Forfar

Hibernian captain Joelle Murray has been given the all-clear to play for up to 30 minutes in tonight's first-ever live televised SWPL1 game between her club and Forfar Farmington at Station Park.

Hibs and Scotland defender Joelle Murray.

The defender missed Scotland’s last four World Cup qualifiers after being injured against Celtic in April.

“I’m excited to be back and even if I only get three minutes I’ll be delighted,” Murray said.

The game is the first of four league fixtures BBC Alba will cover between now and the end of the season as part of a wider deal to show Scotland women’s international games. Although the other three have yet to be announced, all are likely to feature Glasgow City or Hibs as both have 44 points from 16 games and are separated by only one goal at the top of the table.

Forfar head coach Mark 
Nisbet believes that, perversely, the presence of the television cameras tonight will increase the attendance.

“What I’ve noticed this week is that the game being televised has built up a lot of interest in the town,” he pointed out. “In a strange way people are coming to watch the game because it is on TV.

“The downside is that it’s on at the same time as the Scotland-Belgium match. I know a lot of other people who would have come, but have got tickets for the Scotland game.”

A spokesman for BBC Alba admitted the clash with the men’s international was “unfortunate” but added: “The response to the game from within the women’s football community has been overwhelmingly positive.”