Partick Thistle midfielder Ryan Edwards is hoping that his wonder goal against St Johnstone on Tuesday night can help him force his way into the Australia squad for their crucial upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

The 23-year-old spoke before the game about adding more goals to his game in order to catch national manager Ange Postecoglou’s eye, and he will certainly have done that with his 25-yard beauty against Saints.

He will no doubt be having a word with the club’s media department to make sure footage of the strike makes its way onto social media, and he is hoping that people back home will have been watching.

With Australian stars like Scott McDonald, Jackson Irvine and currently, Tom Rogic, starring in the Scottish top-flight, Edwards is determined to make the most of his platform to shine.

“The international manager’s selection mantra is based on form and fitness,” said Edwards.

“There is a squad being announced next week for games against Japan and Thailand so hopefully I should hear by the weekend if I’m going to be in it or not.

“If he’s watching the St Johnstone game it wouldn’t do me any harm – hopefully they show it on television back home!

“I have heard from the boys who play in the international team that he watches everything, so that’s very positive.

“Scottish football is improving all the time and the Australian players who have been based here and involved with the national team have done well.

“Tom Rogic and Jackson Irvine have both been in the international set up and performing well.

“So hopefully playing in this league helps me because there is focus on it and they know back home that it’s a good standard.

“It will be difficult to get in because the midfield is the strongest part of our team.

“The last time I was involved was with the U23 Olympic team and I also made a 30-man squad in March. I’m itching to get back because it’s the best thing to be involved in. The feeling of being selected for your national side is incredible.

“I think I can help the team but we have a lot of depth there with the likes of Mile Jedinak, our captain, Aaron Mooy and others.

“But I already know the management and the staff so hopefully that helps me.

“The games wouldn’t be in my home city but it would be nice to get back to Australia if I’m selected.”

On the domestic front, Edwards was delighted to get on the scoresheet to help his team progress to the last eight of the Betfred Cup.

He is hoping that the glorious moment he produced in Perth isn’t a one-off, and that he can consistently turn the extra work he is doing on the training ground on his finishing into regular goals for Thistle.

“It was nice to finally get a goal, I had a few shots like that last season which went just past or hit the post,” he said.

“It’s all very well and good talking about scoring goals, you have to go out and do it so thankfully I managed that.

“It was great for me to see a nice strike to go in, so I’ll take confidence from that and try to add more.

“I’d scored a few goals like that one in my junior days, but nothing in my professional career so far.”