Scotland's indoor aspirations have been boosted with the news that dual Olympian Pauline Stott has agreed to return to the squad in preparation for the European Indoor Championships in the Netherlands in January.

Stott, the first Scot to captain Team GB, played in both the Atlanta and Sydney Olympic Games but retired from the international scene after Sydney.

Also returning to the Scotland set up is Stott's Grove team mate Jamie Lyon, who was persuaded out of retirement by Scottish national indoor coach Gordon Shepherd.

The training squad named today contains a core of highly experienced indoor players including Glasgow En-Croute Western duo Ali Cox and Helen Walker plus Dundee's Nikki Kleppang, who all played for Scotland in the last Europeans two years ago in Padova, Italy.

Shepherd has also brought in a number of talented young athletes to the squad including last season's Scottish Hockey indoor player of the year Amy Hislop of Kelburne.

'With a number of the senior outdoor squad unavailable due to their Commonwealth Games commitments I was concerned that selection would be difficult but the 22 players named here offer a great blend of youth and experience and the possibilities are fantastic,” Shepherd said.

“The team gelled very well last time out and with a number of those players forming the core of this squad I believe that will be the case once again. I'm very happy with this group of players but will still be keeping an eye on the national indoor league to see if there are other players who could be brought in to the squad.'

Scotland's women play in the top flight in Europe and coach Shepherd is very clear on the aims for this campaign.

'Our aims are to not only retain our A Division place but to finish top six to secure qualification for the Indoor World Championships in Vienna in 2007.'

Scotland have been drawn in Pool B with European indoor champions Germany, runners up Netherlands and Ukraine, who were promoted along with Scotland.

Scottish Women's Indoor Training Squad 2005/06
Elaine Brierly
Vikki Bunce
Katrina Cameron
Alison Cox
Lorna Dobbie
Carmin Dow
Evie Durham
Amy Hislop
Nikki Kleppang
Jamie Lyon
Debbie McLeod
Lyndsay Macrae
Kareena Marshall
Cath Rae
Fiona Sullivan
Catriona Semple
Pauline Stott
Linsey Thompson
Karen Thomson
Abi Walker
Helen Walker
Laura Wrightson
Coach: Gordon Shepherd
Team Manager: Marjory Taylor