The 24-year-old raised eyebrows last year when he swapped a tilt at the Scottish Premier League title for a side expected to struggle in the Coca-Cola Championship.

His decision has now been spectacularly vindicated after Blackpool - with Adam as the stand-out player - overturned huge odds to win a place in the Barclays Premier League via the play-offs.

Adam says Tangerines boss Ian Holloway has got the best out of him and he now feels his career can only benefit from playing in England's top flight.

"You always have to make decisions and sacrifices in life and I have done that," Adam said. "It might not have worked but I'm lucky, it did.

"I have a manager who trusts me and shows great faith in being able to play football and that is important."

Adam has won four Scotland caps over the last three years and played in the impressive first victory under new boss Craig Levein against the Czech Republic in March.

He now wants to cement his place in the squad with the Euro 2012 qualifiers beginning this autumn but, despite his increased profile in England, he is taking nothing for granted.

"Just because I am playing in the Premier League I can't just expect to play for Scotland," Adam said.

"I need to play well in the Premier League so the national team manager picks me.

"How can you expect to play for your country if you are not playing well?

"You have got to give it your all every game and hopefully when the squads are announced you're in them."

Scotland face a tough task to qualify for their first major tournament since 1998 with newly-crowned world champions Spain and the Czechs in their group.

Adam added: "It is going to be a massive campaign.

"Spain have just won the World Cup and they're European champions - so they are going to be easy matches home and away!

"There are some cracking games there, the Czech Republic too. We beat them in the manager's first game and we are looking forward to it.

"Hopefully we can get the right results. There are some good players in the Scotland set-up."

Adam's decision to leave Scotland to play south of the border - even if only at Championship level - is one a growing number of players appear to be making.

Adam accepts that may be damaging for the SPL but he has no doubt the national team will be stronger for it.

He said: "Everybody thinks the Premier League and the Championship are the most competitive leagues.

"I don't know how many Scottish players are in England but there are a lot and that can only benefit the national team.

"It may hurt the SPL but the national team is just as important."

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Adam's old club Rangers have endured a difficult summer with a number of players moving on due to financial concerns at Ibrox.

Defender Danny Wilson last week became the sixth member of Walter Smith's title-winning side from last season to leave when he joined Liverpool.

Yet despite the problems, Adam is confident the Light Blues will still push hard to retain their SPL crown.

Adam, speaking at the opening of a new Cheque Centre store in Blackpool town centre, said: "It maybe doesn't help that Celtic are spending a lot of money, and that's probably the frustrating thing for Walter Smith.

"But I know how he works and he will get the best out of the players there.

"They have still got some good players who are capable of still winning the league."