GLASGOW City head coach Scott Booth has Scotland midfielder Hayley Lauder available for Wednesday's Women's Champions League, last 32, tie against Somatio Barcelona in Limassol. His side are aiming to progress to the next round for the first time in four seasons.

Remarkably their opponents were formed less than three years ago, but in that short time have replaced Apollon Ladies as the pre-eminent side in Cyprus. They sailed through their qualifying group, scoring 10 goals and conceding none in their first three European games.

Lauder missed City's qualifying group matches, and also Scotland's two recent World Cup qualifiers, with a calf strain. She was re-introduced to the side in the 3-0 SBS SWPL1 win against Stirling University on Sunday, coming on at half-time and scoring the third goal.

“She's looking sharp, but we have to handle her with care,” Booth pointed out. Lauder is no stranger to football in Cyprus, having been contracted by Apollon for their Champions League campaign in 2011, scoring five goals.

Somatio's accelerated rise has been accompanied by financial backing. Very much like BIIK-Kazygurt, who eliminated City at the same stage last season, their squad is sprinkled with players from the United States and Africa.

Booth has identified two of them, American striker Krystyna Freda and Ivory Coast internationalist Rebecca Elloh, who plays on the left wing, as the main threats to his side today.

“Elloh is sprinter quick, dribbles past players for fun, likes to get on the end of things and score goals,” the former Aberdeen and Scotland striker said. “She combines really well with Freda, who is a good goalscorer through the middle.”

The American, who is 24, scored two goals in each of Somatio's three qualifying group games. She has also had a science fiction book published about a US President being cloned – fortunately it pre-dates the present incumbent - and lists JK Rowling as her favourite author.

“Somatio have probably got a bit more about them than Kazygurt, and are and less likely to concede goals,” Booth pointed out, “but if we play to our strengths we have a really strong chance of going through to the next round.”

City had only themselves to blame after being knocked out by the Kazakhstan side on away goals last year despite being the better side over the two legs. They have a chance to make amends, with the second leg being held in Glasgow on September 27.