GARY Mackay-Steven was simply hoping to be given a chance in the first team on the last occasion Celtic took on Hamilton last month after spending a lengthy spell out of the starting line-up.

So, it underlines just how well he has performed since that emphatic triumph at Parkhead that he is now looking towards a Scotland call-up when Gordon Strachan names his squads for the friendlies against the Czech Republic and Denmark next month.

The winger, who is set to line up against Hamilton in a Ladbrokes Premiership match at New Douglas Park this evening, has arguably been Ronny Deila’s form player in recent weeks.

The 25-year-old, capped when he came on as a substitute against the United States at Hampden when he was a player at Dundee United back in 2013, would like the opportunity to show what he is capable of for his country.

Strachan will take the unprecedented step of naming two squads for his games against the Czech Republic in Prague and Denmark at Hampden next month as he prepares for the start of his Russia 2018 qualifying campaign later in the year and Mackay-Steven is optimistic he can be involved.

“I’ve been concentrating on Celtic, but I’d be lying if I said that it wasn’t my ambition to get into that Scotland set-up,” he said. “I know that to get back with Scotland I need to play every week and play well at Celtic.

“I’ve been in and around senior squads and got one cap for a friendly game against the USA. It would be great to get more chances and hopefully that will come.

“I was in a lot of squads, but not playing so I didn’t really feel as if I was going to be there to stay. I knew it would be tough and I understand you have to play every week.

“There are two squads going to be announced and we have such a strong group of players pushing for a place. The team that’s been playing has been settled and similar so it’s hard to break in. If I concentrate on my game then I feel that it’s within my reach.”

Mackay-Steven played for Celtic against Inter Milan both home and away in the knockout stages of the Europa League and then helped them win the Premiership title last season after signing from Dundee United.

The Thurso-born player feels the experience he has gained since moving to Glasgow and the constant demands on the team to succeed at Parkhead have equipped him to deal with the step up to international level with Scotland.

“It’ll stand me in good stead playing at a club like this,” he said. “The competition is great but I have to work hard to get to the top. There are a lot of players, but I have to be more motivated and do well. Hopefully if the chance comes again then I’ll be ready.

“I was on the fringes and felt that way but I didn’t feel overawed. To be in squads and not get minutes and then when I did play it was only for five minutes meant I never got established.

“You don’t feel too part of things, but in training and away from the games I felt fine and if the chance comes my way then I’ll be ready this time.”

Mackay-Steven is keen to help Celtic pull nine points clear of Aberdeen, who take on St. Johnstone at Pittodrie tomorrow, with another victory against Hamilton, the side that he kick-started his season against last month, this evening.

He believes the second-placed cub are genuine title contenders and is hoping to apply pressure on them with the right result. He appreciates, though, that beating Martin Canning’s side will not be quite so straightforward as it was last time around when Deila’s team romped to 8-1 victory.

“If you are sitting back after a victory on the Friday night, waiting for the other results, it’s always nice,” he said. “It can be a bit of a psychological factor. When another team is playing on the Friday before you, you are certainly aware of the result. So maybe it has an effect.

“I wouldn’t say it bothers me personally, but I suppose it could, depending on the different scenarios in the league table at any given time. It could make a difference.

“Aberdeen are not far off us. They are playing well and winning games, so it is definitely a title race. Last season they had a challenge for quite a while. Obviously, we finished well ahead of them in the last few weeks of the season, but Aberdeen are sticking by us this time. They are on our heels, playing well, and we need to take them seriously.

“It can only benefit us. We need to be at the top of our game, we can’t rest on our laurels and just think we will win the league easily. It’s certainly far from that. We need to be at the races every single week.”