Lynn focused on Iceland clash, in dark over Chelsea

Shannon Lynn: Emergency deal. Picture: SNS

While the match at the Laugardalsvöllur Stadium in Reykjavik is at the forefront of her mind, the 27-year-old is also waiting to discover whether Chelsea will keep her on following an emergency transfer from Hibs in April. The deal is due to run out after two more matches.

Two of Lynn’s current team-mates, midfielder Edda Gardarsdóttir and defender Olina Vidarsdottir, are in the Iceland squad and Lynn said: “They are both very confident, experienced players.

“Edda has been captaining Chelsea and Olina plays in defence in front of me. I’ve enjoyed playing with them and they are excited about playing against Scotland.

“Iceland will be well up for this game because they’ll use it as preparation for the Euro finals in Sweden. The fact they’ve qualified shows they are a very good team, but I’m confident we’ll win.”

Lynn’s unexpected, and sudden, move to the Women’s Super League came about after Chelsea’s Welsh international ’keeper Nicola Davies, who is in the RAF, was posted to Oman. The club’s reserve goalkeeper, Carly Telford, had a broken hand but is now fit again.

Lynn has continued to train with Hibs while being flown down to England for matches and would have the option of returning to the Edinburgh club if Chelsea don’t extend the deal.

“I can’t predict what somebody else is going to decide. I can only control what I do,” she admitted. “I’ve experienced some high pressure situations since I moved to Chelsea and I think I’ve become a better ’keeper. I’d say they have been happy with the way I’ve performed but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Lynn has won just nine caps despite making her debut in 2010 and getting her first start in a 2-0 win over England the following year. She has been understudy to Scotland’s most experienced player, Gemma Fay.

The Celtic captain, who is four years older, has played a record 156 times for her country and Lynn said: “I have to look up to someone who has so much experience and has been dedicated to the game for a very long time. It gives me hope that I will get the chance to play for Scotland for as long as she has.”

Scotland’ were dealt a blow when PFA women’s player of the year Kim Little didn’t fly out to Reykjavik after playing a full 90 minutes, and scoring a goal, in Arsenal’s 3-2 away win over Bristol Academy on Thursday night. Coach Anna Signeul said she had agreed to rest her star player. Hibs under-19 internationalist Caroline Weir has replaced her.

The Scots are hoping to extend a four-match unbeaten run which comprises wins over Holland, Italy and Wales, plus a draw with England.

The teams drew 1-1 at Cappielow last year.