TONIGHT signifies a welcome return for Scotland.

Not only does it herald Gordon Strachan's team getting back into action following a four-month lay-off, it also symbolises the national team coming back to their historical and spiritual home.

Having spent the first phase of matches in their Euro 2016 qualification campaign on the road due to the Commonwealth Games, the Scots will finally walk out on the Hampden pitch for the first time since a 0-0 draw with the USA in November, 2013.

However, tonight's international challenge match with Northern Ireland also means a different return for one member of the Scotland squad.

James Forrest was last involved in the national set-up 12 months ago as part of a side building towards a campaign of positivity under Strachan with a friendly in Poland.

For the Celtic winger, the vibe and forward-thinking outlook was cut prematurely short. Training in Warsaw the night before the game, Forrest suffered a groin injury that would not only wipe out any hope of playing in the game - which Scotland won 1-0 thanks to a Scott Brown strike - but brought his season to a premature end.

The 23-year-old has also suffered a stop-start first half to the campaign at club level, with him finally looking back to his best in recent weeks.

It has resulted in him being recalled to the Scotland squad after impressing in the green and white hoops.

And now set to feature in his first game for his country for over a year, Forrest told SportTimes he is over the moon at the prospect.

"I'm absolutely buzzing to be back," he said. "When you are injured the only thing you can think about is getting back fit again.

"Thankfully, I'm back playing at club level with Celtic and now I'm involved with Scotland again, so I'm delighted to be part of the squad. All that hard work helped get me through it.

"Last March I was in the squad, but I got injured the day before we played Poland in training. That was the last time I was involved.

"It was the night before the match when we were training in their stadium. I had an underlying groin problem and I ended up having to get an operation which kept me out for the rest of the season.

"I was gutted. I was hoping to play in that game and it was devastating to get injured. It's taken a year for me to get back in the squad again, and it has been a long year.

"I sat watching the game on the bench, which wasn't easy. Obviously I was looking forward to playing, so to get injured that late on was difficult to take. To miss the rest of the season was a killer as well, but that's football, you just have to get on with it."

Being part of any Scotland squad would leave Forrest delighted, but he is particularly pleased to have been called up for this double-header.

While tonight's meeting is ultimately a friendly, it is against a Northern Ireland side flying high in their own group with qualification well within their sights.

It offers Forrest, if selected, the chance to get up to speed ahead of Sunday's qualifier with Gibraltar, and the winger is grateful for the opportunity.

"I'm buzzing to be back in for the Northern Ireland game, it's a good squad to come back into. The boys have a lot of confidence just now and that will make it a good game to play in."

This may be Forrest's first foray out on the Hampden turf in a Scotland jersey for some time, but he only recently sampled the national stage at club level.

Having been used as a substitute in the 2-0 League Cup semi-final win over Rangers, the man from Ayrshire came off the bench against Dundee United in the final earlier this month to net the clincher in a 2-0 win.

It is a stage Forrest clearly feels comfortable with, and he is looking forward to sampling it again.

"The pitch was so much better in the cup final compared to what it was like against Rangers in the semi," he said. "I think it will be even better tonight, which will help us.

"It's good to be back at Hampden, and all of the boys are looking forward to it. We have been in a few different stadiums and done well, but it will be good to get back to Hampden where Scotland play their games.

"I was gutted I missed out on the Republic of Ireland game given it was played at Parkhead, but I just had to focus on getting fit, playing games and getting back in the squad. I'm glad to be back."

A win against Gibraltar - preferably a high-scoring one - would leave Scotland well-placed in their pursuit for qualification, as sampling life at a major finals is not something sampled since France 1998.

Forrest can still remember sitting a month before his seventh birthday watching Scotland open France '98, and the thought of starring there himself next year is something which excites the Celtic man.

He said: "I was six or seven the last time we qualified for a tournament, which was a long time ago! It would be an unbelievable achievement for the boys and Scotland, in general, to do it this time.

"I remember sitting in front of the telly watching Celtic assistant manager John Collins score the penalty against Brazil. You don't realise at the time how big these moments are, it's only afterwards you think about it.

"If we managed to get to France again it would be a monumental achievement, but there is still a long way to go. We just need to stay focused and see where it takes us."