At an age when most teenagers are navigating the pressure of school exams and the anxieties of adolescence, 17-year-old Kayla Scott is commanding penalty areas and staring down strikers over twice her age.
Twenty-four hours. That was all the time Scott had to process what would become a defining moment in her young career.
With Rebecca Cameron sidelined through injury, and the recent arrival of Hibernian loanee, Rowena Armitage, Scott’s expectations were to patiently watch on from the sidelines until a sudden twist of fate thrusted the youngster into her Premier League debut against 16-time champions, Glasgow City.
“I found out the day before the game,” Scott said.
“I got a text from Iain saying I was starting against Glasgow City because one of our goalkeepers had picked up an injury.
“It made me feel like all the hard work and sacrifices I’d made over the last few years had paid off. I was obviously nervous heading into the game, especially because it was so sudden, but I was also really excited for the opportunity.
“It felt amazing to start against one of the best teams in Scotland, especially at such a young age. I was really grateful that the manager put his trust and faith in me.
“Obviously, signing for the club as a 16-year-old, I knew I wasn’t going to be playing regularly, but you never know what can happen in football, so it’s important to stay focused, keep working hard and always be ready to come on and do my job whenever I’m called upon.”
Despite an impressive individual display, with Scott producing several key saves throughout, the hosts professionalism shone through, as they sealed a three-nil victory.
“It was certainly a shaky start, and you could tell that we struggled to settle into the game,” Scott explained.
“We performed to a much higher standard in the second-half. Unfortunately, by that point, we knew that the game was already over.
“We were still encouraged though. We played some impressive football at times, and ultimately showed a lot of character by not giving up.
“One of the biggest reasons for me making the decision to leave Celtic and move to Motherwell was to gain the experience of playing in the Premier League.“When I came to Motherwell, my main aim was to gain more experience in the top flight of women’s football. Obviously, I didn’t expect to make my league and cup debut so quickly, but I’m really grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given.
“It’s been a great experience so far and I’m looking forward to continuing to learn, improve and make the most of every opportunity I get.”
While experience is often considered the ultimate currency for a goalkeeper, the club have boldly invested in the future, with one of the youngest goalkeeping departments in the league.
Led by the injured 26-year-old, Rebecca Cameron, with 18-year-old Rowena Armitage and 17-year-old, Kayla Scott all vying for the number one jersey – the youthful ambition has created a friendly, but competitive dynamic on the pitch.
“Working alongside Rowena and Becky has really helped me develop, and push myself outside my comfort zone,” Scott added.
“They’ve both been really supportive, and I feel like I’m learning so much from them every session. We all want to improve and push each other, so I think having that friendly competition is really important.
“They challenge me to work hard and continually improve, and I’m really grateful to have the opportunity to work with them and learn from their experience.
“Of course, regularly having these opportunities and experiences will support my development and improve me as a player.
“Being in an environment where I’m regularly around experienced players helps me learn more about the game and build my confidence.
“Receiving these opportunities gives me immense belief that the hard work is paying off. I still have a lot to learn, but I want to keep pushing myself and develop into the best goalkeeper I can be.”