CALLUM McGregor last night admitted he was surprised to be overlooked for the Scotland game against England earlier this month given the outstanding form he had been in for Celtic towards the end of last season.

But McGregor has stressed that forcing his way into Gordon Strachan’s side for their remaining Russia 2018 qualifiers is a major ambition for him in the new season.

The midfielder, who arrived in Austria with the rest of the Celtic squad yesterday at the start of a 10 day pre-season break, was a regular in Brendan Rodgers’s side towards the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

Read more: Celtic in Austria: Callum McGregor targets greater heights for Euro high-flyers

The 24-year-old scored four goals in his last seven games– including in back-to-back victories over Rangers – as the Parkhead club completed only the fourth treble in their history.

He was widely expected to be included in the national squad for the Group F match with Gareth Southgate’s side at Hampden on June 10 – but was even omitted from the initial 29-man pool.

Scotland, who drew the England game 2-2, have vital qualifiers coming up against Lithuania and Malta in September and McGregor is determined to be involved.

“When the squad was being announced I was confident I might be in it,” he said. “I was playing well, scoring goals and playing in big games. The squad came out and I wasn’t in it. That was that.

“Naturally, you get that confidence and think ‘right, it might be time, I might be ready’. Naturally, you are a wee bit disappointed when it doesn’t happen, but that’s not going to knock my confidence.

“I will come back, work hard and when the games start I will hopefully show I can get there.”

Read more: Celtic in Austria: Callum McGregor targets greater heights for Euro high-flyers

“Scotland is always a target. Obviously, I’m a bit disappointed I wasn’t involved. But I just need to focus on my club stuff and getting back in.

“We have a lot of good midfielders and it’s up to me to try and prove I can get in there and play well for Celtic and get a call.

“I think that was my best season for Celtic. You look at what we achieved as a squad and the number of games I played.

“I played in big games and scored in big games, it was a real good season and I take confidence from that going into a new season.”

Strachan called McGregor into the Scotland squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Germany back in 2014 shortly after breaking into the Celtic first team and scoring in Champions League qualifiers against KR Reykjavik, Legia Warsaw and NK Maribor.

He believes he is better placed to cope with the demands of in player now after working under Rodgers for a season, winning every major honour in the Scottish game and competing in the Champions League.

“A hundred first team games later I feel a far more complete player now. I feel ready to handle international football now.’

Read more: Celtic in Austria: Callum McGregor targets greater heights for Euro high-flyers

“It’s a closed shop. It’s just up to me to try and catch the eye and if I get in, great. I try and look after my Celtic career first and foremost and any international recognition after that is a bonus.”

“You first break in and everybody thinks, ‘What a player this boy is’,” he said. “I scored in a Champions League game and everything went straight away in an upwards direction.

“I was in the Scotland squad (for the Germany game) but didn’t get stripped that night. Naturally, you take a bit of a dip. You begin to realise you’ve still got a lot to learn as a player and being part of a team.”

Celtic’s pre-season matches with BW Linz on Wedensday, Raid Vienna on Saturday, Slavia Prague a week today and Shamrock Rovers a week today are being shown live on Celtic TV. For details about how to subscribe visit www.celticfc.tv.