Herd, who has broken into the Villa first team, is still to be capped by the Socceroos.

But the 22-year-old is also eligible to play for Craig Levein's team as both his parents are Scottish.

Herd's agent, Phil Williams, said: "Like any Australian player, Chris wants to play for his country.

"It's where he was born and bred. But the reality is that if they don't call him up, somebody else will.

"The ball is really in Australia's court but Scotland are definitely interested. They have been watching him closely. He has Scottish parents.

"It would be great to see him represent Australia. That said, it honestly wouldn't surprise me if Scotland didn't try and call him up sooner rather than later."

Herd has slotted in at right-back after the departure of Luke Young to QPR and was voted man of the match in Villa's last game against Wolves 10 days ago.

But he now faces competition from Alan Hutton following his signing from Tottenham on the final day of the transfer window.