Ross Stewart admits he has been flattered with talk of a Scotland call-up - and the Sunderland striker still harbours ambitions of following the likes of Lyndon Dykes into the national squad.
The 25-year-old's move to Wearside has been a success so far, with the former Ross County forward hitting 10 goals for the Black Cats already this season.
That form has seen him linked with a call-up to Steve Clarke's Scotland squad and, while he is still waiting for that final step, Stewart knows he is on the right track with Sunderland.
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"It has been flattering to even be talked about in Scotland terms,” he told the Daily Record.
“It would be a dream come true if it ever was to happen, especially with the path I have taken coming up from the juniors.
“There has been a lot of talk about a Scotland call-up down here.
“The manager (Lee Johnson) has told me that there was a Scotland scout at our game a couple of weeks ago.
“That was nice to hear. It shows I must be doing something right and I am at least on the radar.
“As I said, it would be a dream come true if I was to get the Scotland call-up but I can’t get too hung up on it.
“I just need to keep doing well for Sunderland and I know if I can do that then I might give myself my best chance of a Scotland call-up some time in the future.”
One man who Stewart could look to emulate is QPR striker Lyndon Dykes. He took a similar path of leaving Scotland - Livingston in his case - to move south of the border and prove his abilities in the EFL.
Dykes is now established as Scotland's first-choice striker, and he is very much the benchmark for his country's aspiring forwards.
“Lyndon has gone down to the Championship and done well, " Stewart added. "He is scoring goals for club and country.
“Lyndon has been the main man for Scotland in recent games and that is the level the rest of the strikers have to get to.”
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