JAMIE MURPHY hopes promotion with Sheffield United can help make his Scotland dream become a reality.

The winger was capped four times for the Under-19s and on 40 occasions for the U21 squad, while his starring role in a successful Motherwell team led many to be touting him for a senior cap.

Now at the ripe old age of 25, Murphy is once again attracting attention with the Blades.

Playing on the flanks for the Bramall Lane club, the Scot has netted 10 times from the flanks as United sit in the Championship promotion play-off places, with an automatic spot up into England's second tier not beyond them.

Only at the weekend Scotland manager Gordon Strachan revealed he has watched Murphy on more than one occasion before saying consistently performing at a higher level would enhance his chances.

It is a premise Murphy himself agrees with. The ex-Motherwell favourite recognises that performing in the Championship's spotlight may help his international aspirations.

He said: "Obviously being in the Championship would be a higher level for me and it would allow me to show what I can do a bit more.

"It's definitely our aim to get there and perform on a bigger stage.

"It's an aspiration for me to play for Scotland, of course it is. Every footballer wants to represent their country.

"All you can do is try and play well and hope people notice. If you're not getting picked you have to work harder to try and change that.

"I'm no different. I've been the same since I was 19 and 20 when people kept asking the question about Scotland. All I can do is keep working hard and see what happens."