Herbert gets GB recall for Spain

Beckie Herbert is back in the GB squad after missing the Olympics

Jersey hockey player Beckie Herbert has been selected for next week's Great Britain squad training camp in Spain.

Herbert's international call, which also involves three tests against Spain, marks her return after missing selection for last year's Olympics.

"Obviously it's always great to be involved," she told BBC Jersey. "Last year was quite tough so hopefully I can kick off 2009 with a good start."

The 22-year-old now plays her club hockey in Holland.

She impressed Great Britain women's coach Danny Kerry at the recent tri-nations indoor tournament where was England's top scorer.

But Kerry said that was not necessarily why she was selected for next week's trip.

Beckie has always been in our calculations

Great Britain Women's Coach Danny Kerry

"Beckie has always been in our calculations," said Kerry. "Scoring always helps but the indoor tournament was more to work on the things that meant she missed selection last year.

"At the moment that's working on first touch ball retention and defence. Everything else is pretty solid."

While the matches against Spain are the start of a four-year cycle culminating in London in 2012, Herbert is taking it one match at a time.

"Missing Beijing was a very difficult for me in terms of selection," she said. "I'm not over it at all but I can only look forward now.

"For me, 2012 is massive but before then there's a lot of things I've got to aim for, the European's, the Champions Trophy and then the Commonwealth Games and World Cup."

GB training squad: Ashleigh Ball, Hayley Brown, Holly Cram, Harriet Cunningham, Gemma Darrington, Becky Duggan, Beckie Herbert, Carys Hopkins, Nikki Kidd, Kirsty Mackay, Emily Maguire, Louise Munn, Anne Panter, Chloe Rogers, Natalie Seymour, Chloe Strong, Sally Walton, Kerry Williams