Having been overlooked for the latest Socceroos squad (his agent revealing the player's disappointment but respect for Pim Verbeek's decision in the Sydney media today) McDonald is also pushing to win regular favour with his club boss.

He did his cause no harm with two goals off the bench in Celtic's latest outing and former Parkhead favourite Andy Walker believes McDonald must start.

"His return in terms of goals since signing for Celtic has been terrific and, if he continues to work and improve his game outside of the box, he will just get better," Walker told the Daily Record.

"Scott possesses what I would call a 'good sniff'. He appreciates what is going on in and around the penalty area and can usually sniff out the right place to be at the right time.

"Celtic need a striker right now who can secure his fair share of goals and, more often than not, Scott has come up with the goods. I would be looking at him with a partner."

McDonald's goal tally for Celtic is impressive but he has yet to break his duck at international level with the Socceroos.