BLACKBURN Rovers forward Tony Watt is determined to repay the trust shown in him by Scotland boss Gordon Strachan as he prepares to make a likely international debut tonight.

Watt is in the Tartan Army squad for tonight’s friendly in Prague against the Czech Republic and is one of only two frontmen available to Strachan, alongside Fulham’s Ross McCormack, as a result of withdrawals.

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The former Celtic man has two goals in 10 games since joining Rovers on loan from Charlton, but the call-up for Scotland duty, ahead of former Rovers hitman Jordan Rhodes, came as a shock.

“I was buzzing with the call-up because I always want to play for the national team,” said Watt, who has been considered a star in the making for Scotland since scoring a famous goal for Celtic against Barcelona in the Champions League in 2012.

“But obviously I need to go and impress the gaffer by training well. I need to show him what I can do.

“When someone puts their trust in you, you want to repay them.

“That’s the case in every walk of life and I’ll be no different when I turn up for Scotland.

“The manager has given me a chance and I don’t want to let him down.”

His club boss Paul Lambert has revealed that he spoke to Strachan before Watt was named in the Scotland squad for the first of two friendlies over the weekend.

Lambert believes Strachan’s approach to management could help Watt improve, and he has no doubt there is room to grow in his game.

“Gordon phoned me a few weeks ago and asked me about him,” said Lambert.

“Gordon makes up his own mind and who he wants to pick but it’s great for Tony to be included and it’s a chance for him to put a marker down of if he does well for them maybe pick him for the next squad. Gordon will know what he’s doing with him.

“I think he’s one of those players who responds to that type of management (arm around) rather than being aggressive and highly critical of him.

“He’s only a young lad as well who’s still learning. He does things that are great and other things that make you think, ‘where did that come from?’ “There’s a long way to go in his career.”

Watt’s commitment to the fitness side of his game has been questioned by Strachan’s national assistant Mark McGhee, who hopes working with Lambert can be beneficial for him.

And the Rovers boss is well aware that his loanee needs to improve that side of his game to fit into his Rovers system.

Watt has started six times for Lambert so far in his loan spell, but has been replaced between the 56th minute and the 74th minute in all of those games.

“I think he’s got to get that fitness in his game; especially the way I want to play,” said Lambert. “He’s got to get that in his game but the time that’s he’s been on I think he’s done really well.”