McDonald has been in superb form since joining the Scottish giants this season, scoring a hat-trick 10 days ago, followed by a late winner against AC Milan and another against Gretna at the weekend.

He is seen as the natural successor to Mark Viduka in the Australia line-up...if he will only make himself available for selection.

Graham Arnold decided not to pick the 24 year old for the Asian Cup after McSocceroo said he wanted to stay with Celtic for pre-season training.

And he missed last month's friendly against Argentina, pulling out with a hamstring injury at the eleventh hour. However he recovered in time to play for Celtic a couple of days later.

But now McDonald - who signed for Celtic in a $1.7 million deal from Motherwell - has pledged he will turn out for the green and gold.

"I'd love to be involved with the Socceroos but I need to be selected first," he told Sydney Daily Telegraph. "I'm very keen and really looking forward to it.

"I believe the people back home haven't seen the best of me yet. They've also not seen much of me.

"To come home and to play for Australia and have my own people watch, I've got a point to prove and it's something that excites me.

"It's a challenge and I look forward to it. If selected and if I'm injury-free, I'll be there."