Young Scotland hockey star Laura Bartlett found out today (Friday) that she will be playing a major role in team GB’s bid for an Olympic medal in Beijing.

Bartlett, 20, was originally selected as a non-playing travelling reserve for the squad, and was the only female Scot to make the final cut.

But now the Glasgow youngster will be plucked from the holding camp in Macau and swiftly reunited with her GB team-mates, following the withdrawal of English player Jennie Bimson, who tore a calf muscle.

Bartlett told In The Winning Zone before she left for the far-East that should such an opportunity arise, she will be ready to represent Team GB with distinction.

She said: “Obviously that’s a difficult situation to be in, suddenly being thrown into the [squad of] sixteen, but I will just try to enjoy the whole experience and just always be ready and give everything I’ve got.

“I’ve trained really hard and the work has paid off in getting this far, so I will just continue on working hard.”