WALTER Smith has made it clear to Sam Parkin that the door to the full Scottish squad will swing open to those who seize their opportunity in Austria tonight.

The Town striker and the rest of the Scotland Future squad had a meeting with the national coach after training yesterday morning with the message loud and clear, impress and you will be rewarded.

Smith, pictured above, is desperate for a good goalscorer and has already heard good reports about Town's ace.

Smith said: "He has been recommended and I have had him watched on a good few occasions and the reports have all been good.

"The boy can only play at the level he is involved in at the present moment.

"If he carries on scoring the goals he has done and does as well as he has been doing then the challenge is to rise up a level and see if he can handle it.

"He started out with a big club and could well start making his way back up and I certainly hope so.

Some boys when they are younger take a little bit longer to mature.''

Parkin and company are based half an hour from the Austrian capital Vienna ahead of the match at the Pappelstadion in Mattersburg tonight (7.30pm).

The striker's airport navigation skills may be less than sparkling but the Town striker feels he is on the right path to international progress.

He certainly doesn't feel out of place in the squad and knows that he has been selected on the basis of merit.

Speaking from his bungalow at the team's base, he said: "I had a bit of trouble at Heathrow in the sense that there was a bit of confusion over which terminal we needed but luckily I bumped into one of the other London-based members of the squad and we got the flight okay.

"We are staying in a great place about half an hour's drive from Vienna and everything's terrific, the facilities and the food.

"Walter Smith and Ally McCoist took a light training session yesterday morning.

"There was some possession work and then small-sided games.

"We got together as a group then and Walter Smith made it clear that there would be an opportunity to stake a claim for the senior squad. That was obviously good to hear."

Several members of the squad have Scotland Under 21 experience while others ply their trade in the English Premiership and the top flight in Scottish football.

However, Parkin in no way feels like he is 'lucky' to be part of such company due to his domestic club only playing in League One.

He said: "I don't feel out of place in any way. I have to tell myself that I am good enough to be here. I've always had faith in my own ability."

It isn't clear just how big a part Parkin will get to play in tonight's match but while he admits a debut goal would be a dream, he is only setting himself one target.

He said: "Of course it would be fantastic to score and a great way to end the three days but all I'm really focusing on is making sure I do myself justice."

Parkin has had plenty of advice and good luck messages ahead of the game.

He said: "Grant Smith helped me to pack as he'd been on a Scotland trip as a youngster and some of the lads have contacted me to wish me luck."