STEVEN Naismith last night admitted he was disappointed by how few goals he has scored for Scotland as he prepared to return to Ibrox for the first time since his acrimonious departure from Rangers.

The Everton forward has become a key man for Scotland but that has yet to be reflected in his goals tally, having scored only three times in 30 appearances and not at all since the home win over Croatia almost exactly a year ago. Tomorrow's Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia offers the chance to improve those personal statistics, though, and the 28-year-old's confidence is high after club goals against Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Leicester City already this season.

Naismith exercised his right to leave Rangers under Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) legislation in 2012 having refused to transfer his contract from oldco to newco after liquidation. Charles Green, the former Rangers chief executive, called Naismith and others "opportunist" at the time and there was heavy criticism from some supporters, but the player said his history at the club was not a factor ahead of a crucial game for the national team.

"Ibrox should be great," he said. "It's the first time I've been back since I left Rangers. I have some fantastic memories from there, not only of playing with Rangers but when I was with Kilmarnock as well. Hopefully, this one can be another good memory.

"To be honest, I've not really thought about it [the circumstances of his departure from Rangers]. This game and next month's against Ireland are circumstances that don't come around much. When it comes out that you are playing these games, I really enjoy them. Although Hampden's fantastic, you play the majority of your home games there so it's nice to get a wee change.

"Going back to Ibrox will be good. I don't think it's strange that I've not been back since leaving Rangers. With moving down to England, you are focusing on your career. When I left to go to Rangers from Kilmarnock it was a while before I went back to Rugby Park. It's not that big a deal. I've never really thought 'it's been a while'."

Naismith made his Scotland debut almost seven-and-a-half years ago - in a 2-0 win in the Faroe Islands - but in 30 appearances as a starter or substitute since then he has scored only against Spain in 2010, Lithuania in 2011 and Croatia last year. Playing often as a midfielder or out wide, before being used more regularly in his current role as a deep-lying forward, clearly were factors in his modest return but he admitted scrutiny of his record was legitimate. "That's a fair criticism. I would have expected more goals.

"I have played in a lot of different positions. Inevitably, when you come up against a lot of the teams, you are doing a lot more defending. It's counter-attacking and you only get a couple of chances in a game whereas at club level you maybe get a few more. But I would definitely say that's the one thing I'm probably disappointed with, the amount of goals I've scored.

"I had a good scoring period at Rangers but this is probably the first time since then that I have played regularly in the same position and the manager [Roberto Martinez] has worked things around me a bit more. That's definitely helped. Hopefully in the international it will be the same. With my good form at club level I feel good going into every game. I feel as if I will get chances to score."

Naismith is too young to be an elder statesman but he is certainly one of the senior internationalists. He is a world removed from that first call-up for the game in the Faroes. "When I look at guys like Stevie May and Ryan Gauld coming in now I try to think back to what I was feeling at the start," he said. "Even though I knew a few players I was still a nervous wreck. I roomed with Shaun Maloney. I was pretty shy but he was great with me, we didn't just sit in silence watching films!

"My first trip couldn't have gone better. I got capped and the experience of being away with the national side. We were staying in a hotel with grass on the roof. The place was surrounded by animals.

"Back then there were guys like Boydy [Kris Boyd] and a few others I knew from the younger squads, but it was big Davie Weir who really helped me. He would make a point of coming to speak to you. It was at a time when there was talk about me going to Rangers but he would speak about doing the right things and enjoying myself.

"He was the one who stood out, along with Darren Fletcher. I have noticed Darren doing it with others too. We were saying last night, you could sit down at any table in this squad and feel comfortable chatting away."

They were joined by a familiar face yesterday when Kenny Miller dropped in to the Scotland squad hotel to catch up with a few pals.

The morale is buoyant ahead of this first home qualifier. "This is the most optimistic I have ever felt in a squad. The expectation is higher from everyone whether it's the fans, the players, the coaches, everyone. That's down to the work we have done in the last 18 months and the fact there are more teams qualifying for Euro 2016 so it gives you more of a chance. And the majority of the squad are getting to their late 20s. Everyone is at their prime of their career. This is when you should be fulfilling your potential."

n Steven Naismith was speaking at the launch of the SFA's charity partnership with Dyslexia Scotland. He is an ambassador for the charity, having struggled with dyslexia at school. The charity will receive donations from the SFA and assistance and support for its future events.