ONE by one, Jamie Murphy has ticked off the boxes this season. He still has goals to achieve for club and for country, though.

A campaign that saw the winger make his Premier League debut, clinch a dream move to Rangers and score his first goals in Light Blue could deliver another memory in the coming days as he looks to finally make his international bow.

When it comes to Scotland, it has been a case of so near yet so far for Murphy in recent seasons. The call-ups have come, but a cap has yet to be earned.

His inclusion in Alex McLeish’s squad for the friendlies with Costa Rica and Hungary are a fitting reward for the form he has shown since he made the move from Brighton during the January transfer window.

And Murphy hopes his patience will be rewarded and his perseverance will pay off as he sets his sights on a first outing for Scotland in the coming days.

He said: “It is always the aim when you come away, you want to get some game time and be involved. Hopefully I can be involved in a winning team.

“If you are playing regular football at a good level then you are always in with a chance of being in the squad. I am doing well but I always want to keep trying to get better and improving. It felt great to get the call-up.

“It would mean a lot, it is something I have always wanted, to play for my country. I was disappointed not to get a cap before so I want to do my best.

“Coming away, I am training with new players and meeting the manager, so I want to get myself involved and get some game time.

“He (McLeish) played for Scotland a lot and had a great career and he is someone to look up to. That can only be good for Scotland to have someone that has been there and done it before.”

A first appearance in Dark Blue has evaded Murphy to date and he is not the only uncapped player that McLeish has his national ranks this week.

The likes of Scott McTominay and Oli McBurnie are also in the running for their debuts at Hampden or in Budapest on Monday evening.

It would be a proud moment for Murphy and the 28-year-old is determined to make the most of his chance to impress as he looks to finish with a flourish this term.

He said: “There are still things we want to do at Rangers. We are still in the Cup and there are big league games to go.

“Getting a Scotland cap would be a big thing, it is something that has always pushed me on in my career and I always wanted to get it. It drives me on.

“The only pressure is the pressure you put on yourself. You want to do well as a player, you want to do well for your country.

“We have got the support of the whole country, everyone comes together when there is a game and everyone wants the national team to win. We are the same as players and we want to do the best we can.

“I think I am one of the older ones that have come straight in and there are talented players in there.

“It is a chance for the players to impress and show the new manager what they can do.

“There are young players as well and that can only be good for the country that these players are coming through and are getting their opportunity.

“You want to impress the new manager, you want to impress the coaching staff and you want to impress the other players in the team. You want to have a good week away and do well in the games and if you do that then hopefully you will be in future squads.

“That is kind of the message. The more you can do, the better chance you have of being there in the future.”

The matches with Costa Rica and Hungary will be followed by the summer clashes against Mexico and Peru as McLeish assesses his options ahead of the Nations League campaign.

After two decades of hurt and failure on the international stage, the Hampden boss is determined to lead his side to the 2020 European Championships.

And Murphy reckons there are promising signs within the Tartan ranks as a new era gets underway this week.

He said: “We have obviously not been at a major tournament for a long time and that is definitely the aim now. We are all here wanting the same thing so hopefully it is a good start.

“I know a few [of the boys] from being in it before, a few from the 21s, a few from playing against them.

“There is a good mix in there, some boys have been here and done it and some new boys that haven’t been here before.

“It is good it is at Hampden and it is a team that we don’t normally play. It is one we are looking forward to.

“I am sure we will look at them on the video, see what they do and be prepared for the game. It is not normally a team we play friendlies or qualifiers against so it is good for the fans to see someone different as well.”