BLACKPOOL winger Matt Phillips hopes to ease his Wembley heartache by making his Scotland debut this weekend.
National team boss Craig Levein has already indicated that the 21-year-old will earn his first cap against the United States in Saturday's friendly in Jacksonville.
For Phillips, the prospect of making his international bow is the ideal tonic just days after the devastating blow of losing the npower Championship play-off final to West Ham United.
The result may have cost the Seasiders their chance to return to the Barclays Premier League but Phillips can at least look forward to taking the next step in his own personal development.
The midfielder said: "It was a massive disappointment at Wembley.
"We had a great season at club level and, personally, I think I had probably my best season.
"Hopefully, come Saturday, I can cap off a good season with a Scotland cap.
"It was a massive disappointment for the whole club – not just me.
"We really feel we deserved to win the game but in football you don't always get what you deserve.
"To now come away with Scotland, it's a great feeling to be here and I'm just happy and looking forward to the game."
Phillips' impressive form has not gone unnoticed and he has already been linked with Everton, Stoke City, Reading and Swansea City.
But he said: "I don't think you can think about things like that until something happens and Blackpool accept an offer.
"I don't think it will be on my mind. I've still got a season and an option at Blackpool so I'll take it as it comes.
"Blackpool is a big club and they have a great manager and a great set of boys. I enjoyed my season, I enjoyed playing the football we played and whatever happens will happen."
Phillips – who netted 18 goals for Ian Holloway's side this season – admits to being flattered by the reported interest.
He added: "It's good, it gives you an extra boost to know that you are doing well and that other people are noticing."
For now, he is keen to focus on impressing Levein ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, which begin with a meeting in September against Serbia that would confirm his status as a fully-fledged Scotsman.
Born in Aylesbury and having already repre-sented England at both under-19 and under-20 level, Phillips caused a stir when he switched allegiance to the Scots.
His eligibility comes courtesy of his Scottish grandparents and, speaking at the team's training base in Florida, Phillips admitted: "I've got no regrets. It was a decision that I made over a long period of time."