Kim Little doesn't want to be '˜Giggs of the women's game'

Kim Littles talents will be on show at the Falkirk Stadium tonight when Scotland take on Spain. Picture: Jon Savage

The fact she is Scottish makes this all the more worth celebrating. Anna Signeul, coach of the Scotland women’s team who host Spain in a friendly tonight in Falkirk, certainly brackets Kim Little among the world’s most talented.

“We have in Scotland one of the best – and some say the best – football players in the world,” she said yesterday. “It’s about time we acknowledged that more and gave Kim credit for being the fantastic player that she is.

“All the American players who play with her give her that accolade. We in Scotland have always known how good she has been. She is special.

“If this was men’s football it would be a huge thing that Scotland has one of the best players in the world.”

As Signeul makes clear, this isn’t just a view coloured by one’s patriotism. Indeed Signeul, who has been in charge of Scotland for 11 years, is a proud Swede. Others across the globe have been wooed by Little’s talents, including Hope Solo, her team-mate at Seattle Reign.

Solo’s opinion must be heeded. Not only is she is the most capped American women’s player of all time, she has also played with international team-mates of the quality of Alex Morgan.

But it underlines just how much depends on nationality. Solo was playing for the United States in front of 25,000 in Nashville two days ago in a SheBelieves Cup clash with France, with Morgan – like Solo, a World Cup winner – scoring the winner in the last minute.

Little will tonight play in front of a far smaller crowd as Scotland seek to earn the win that will boost spirits before re-engaging with the task of reaching a first major finals.

In an article on Fifa.com last week, Little was described as the “low profile world beater”. Perhaps the only reason she is low profile – if indeed someone who has been named player of the year in both England and the United States can be described as low profile – is because she’s yet to feature at a major finals.

Because of this, she has been dubbed the Ryan Giggs of the women’s game, with the world-class Welsh winger’s international ambitions having been famously thwarted by Wales’ struggles to reach the finals of a World Cup or European Championship.

Little is not unhappy with the Giggs comparison but clearly wishes to prevent spending her whole career wondering what it would be like to play at such a level – like Giggs,  she did experience the 2012 London Olympics.

“I wasn’t a ‘leftie’ but I enjoyed watching Man United when I was younger, and he [Giggs] was in the era when I was watching,” she said. “He played a slightly different position to me but he was great to watch and he was obviously a true professional, who played until he was 40.”

Aged only 25, time is on the midfielder’s side. Little can also potentially benefit from Scotland’s improving standing in the game. As many as 20 Scots are now full-time as opposed to just one four years ago. The clash with Jorge Vilda’s Spain is an opportunity to test the international team’s continued developed.

Scotland experienced heartache at the hands of tonight’s opponents at the Euro 2013 play-off stage, losing 4-3 on aggregate. Although there are many changes in both teams since them – Scotland have also been hit by illness and injury, with Bayern Munich’s Lisa Evans confined to her bed with flu – the game will be fiercely competed given the history between the two sides. From Scotland’s point of view, the fixture also forms part of the preparation for next month’s Euro 2017 qualifier against Slovenia in Paisley.

Scotland are currently top of Group 1 having earned maximum points from four games. This could be their best ever chance to provide Little with the opportunity to shine at a major finals.

Despite the claims made on her behalf, Little is particularly self-effacing for a star player. She has few airs and graces. She is more concerned with ensuring she can help Scotland reach this stage for a first time.

“It has never crossed my mind that side of it,” she said yesterday, when questioned about her own personal ambitions to reach her first major finals, where she would be able to further justify those who have tagged her as the world’s finest.

“I just want to be a part of a European Championship with my national team,” she added. “That is the thing I focus on.”

She is having the time of her life at present. As well as relishing the resumption of a new league season in the States next month, she has recently spent the NSWL off-season playing for Melbourne City, where she won Australia’s W-League title.

It meant she established her excellence on yet another continent, having also starred for Arsenal, as well as first club Hibs Ladies, here in Europe. Signeul believes it is time more people realised what Scotland are blessed with – a genuine world football star.

“These two years in Seattle have taken her to the next  level,” she said yesterday. “She went over to Australia and  was superior in that league as well. She is special.”