SCOTLAND defender Sophie Howard hopes her knowledge of Germany and their players can be their “superpower” this week.

German-born Howard and her team-mates host Germany at Tannadice on Friday before playing the return Uefa Women’s Nations League fixture in Wolfsburg four days later.

The Leicester player said: “I was born in Germany, that’s where my journey started. I grew up in the youth system, in grassroots football in Germany.

“I’ve always grown up in a very hybrid world in that sense. My parents are both British, my mum’s Scottish and my dad’s English, but I grew up in Germany.

“I’m here now and I’m happy that I’m here and I’m ready to fight for the badge on Friday.”

Howard played more than 100 games over two spells with 1899 Hoffenheim, either side of a spell playing and studying in the United States.

When asked to compare her footballing education in Germany with other countries, the 31-year-old said: “It’s really difficult for me to compare because that’s where I grew up and that’s all I know in terms of my first steps in football.

“Germany has always been a very disciplined side and that’s drilled into players from a very young age.

“I’m just used to facing challenges and dealing with adversity and that’s how I’ve lived life and that defines me as a person and a player. That’s something I think I brought into the squad when I came in.

“I think I’ve got an advantage that I know a lot of the players and I’ve seen them for many, many years.

“I’ve got a lot of experience playing in Germany and playing against the players that we will be facing on Friday.

“I believe they don’t know as much about us as we know about them and I think that can be our superpower on Friday.

“I’ve got players I’ve played with at clubs previously many, many years ago and many players I’ve played against.”

Scotland go into the double-header on the back of defeats against Austria and the Netherlands in their opening fixtures and Howard is focused on producing a performance that has them moving in the right direction under interim head coach Mick McArdle.

“You always go in wanting to win,” Howard said. “Why do we play football otherwise?

“I think we’re fully aware that a lot has to go right that day for us to come out on top. I’m convinced that we can perform and compete with Germany, a top nation and we just have to be at our best.

“That’s what this week is there for, to make sure that we are fully prepared and we can be at our best on Friday.

“In terms of progression, we focus on ourselves and we want to make sure that we learn from each game.”