Ross County left back Josh Reid is hopeful of breaking into the Scotland under-19s set up if he can continue to impress for the Staggies.
Defender Reid has been handed his breakthrough by County manager Stuart Kettlewell this season, with the teenager starting the Dingwall side’s first five games of the campaign.
Scotland’s qualifying campaign for the under-19 European Championships has been put on hold due to coronavirus, with Billy Stark’s side scheduled to play their outstanding elite round fixtures in October.
Should they progress, Scotland will take their place at the eight-team finals in Northern Ireland which begin the following month.
Although he is primarily focused on impressing for the Staggies, Reid says international recognition is on his radar.
Reid said: “It’s definitely something I’m looking at.
“I’ve never been called up before, but it’s not out of the possibilities that it could happen if I can keep the shirt and keep playing every week. I don’t see why not.
“It’s definitely something that has been on my mind for the last couple of years.
“I’ve been looking at the players that have been getting called up and thinking ‘how can I get better than them?’
“I definitely want the call-up, but it’s not something that I need at the moment, I just need to be playing for Ross County every week at the moment.”
Reid is likely to be handed his toughest test yet in County’s next outing at home to champions Celtic next Saturday, with fellow left back Carl Tremarco suspended following his dismissal against Livingston.
Reid credits Kettlewell and his coaching team with helping him make a smooth transition into senior football this term, adding: “I worked with him when he was the Development squad’s manager a few times, and he was brilliant then.
“He’s been brilliant with me now too, and I think it helps that he’s from that development background.
“He knows what I need to know, that I need to keep myself grounded, so it’s been really good to work with him.
“I also worked under Don Cowie with the under-18s last season, he coached us there and he definitely helped me a lot with how to conduct myself and how to strive to be the best in training and the best I can be.
“He has helped me a lot as well.”
Reid’s attacking instincts from full back have been clear to see, which the 18-year-old believes stems from playing further up the field during his younger years.
He added: “I used to be a left-winger, then I lost a lot of pace when I was 15 or 16 and they converted me into a left back.
“I definitely prefer being left back now obviously, but I used to play further forward.”
“I’m more of a naturally attacking full back, so it has been a lot more about working with me on my defensive positioning.
“The attacking side of it comes naturally to me, so it’s just about knowing when to go forward and when not to.”