BENARTY footballer Lucy Graham says she's "more inspired and determined than ever" to live her football dreams following the tragic loss of her mum.

The talented 21-year-old was left heartbroken in October when, after arriving home from a match in Belarus with the Scotland squad, she found her family waiting to tell her that mum Ruth had passed away.

Lucy, a midfielder with Hibernian Ladies, then put football on the back burner as she tried to come to terms with her loss and only returned to training with her club last week.

She's been left out Scotland head coach Shelley Kerr's pool for the upcoming friendly double-header with Norway and Russia in Spain later this month but is ready to return to action for club and country.

Lucy, who was named as Benarty's Young Citizen of the Year in February last year, said: "When something like that happens it puts massive perspective on life and how short and bitter-sweet it can be at times. You have to really go for it when you have the opportunity.

"It's a big goal to get back into the Scotland squad and secure a place in the team this season – but it's up to me to show I'm ready to be considered again. I'll get a good few friendlies under my belt, and the start of the season (on February 11) should be a positive one for me."

After winning 16 caps for the under-19s, Lucy finally made her senior debut as a second half substitute in a September friendly win in Hungary and then travelled to Minsk for Scotland's opening World Cup qualifier, but didn't feature in their 2-1 win.

Instead of remaining with the squad at their Edinburgh base for the following game with Albania – which ended in a 5-0 success at St Mirren's Paisley 2021 Stadium – she withdrew and took time away from the game.

She recalled: "My family knew I was coming back the next day anyway, so they thought they would wait and save me the worry on the trip home.

"When we landed in Edinburgh they were at the airport. I couldn't understand why, and that's when they told me my mum had passed away in her sleep. It was such a shock and a wee bit of a blur.

"It was that fairytale mother-daughter relationship. She inspired me, she was iconic and she was my best friend.

"She pushed me in the right direction ever since I was a toddler, regardless of whether it was in football or anything else. She would do everything for me and never had any barriers – she was such a proud mother.

"I'm so happy my mum was still with us when I got my first cap. I had proved myself so many times within that environment, but it was knock-back after knock-back, and setback after setback.

"I would be told I was doing well and knocking on the door – they were telling me I was doing everything right, but not giving me any rewards or explanation for not being picked.

"It was frustrating but that's football sometimes."

As well as looking to return to the Scotland fold in the new season, Lucy is also targeting a return to the full-time game.

In 2015, she spent five months on a professional contract with Swedish club Mallbackens IF, and added: "That's my dream and ultimate goal.

"After everything that has happened in the last three months I feel more inspired and determined than ever."