Naismith determined to return to Scotland duty
Steven Naismith has set his sights on returning to regular first-team football and returning to the Scotland squad.
The Norwich forward has been back training for three weeks after suffering an ankle ligament injury, but admits he might have to look into leaving Carrow Road to get back playing.
The former Kilmarnock, Rangers and Everton player only made one appearance during Scotland's World Cup qualifying campaign but he wants to extend his international career beyond 45 caps after Gordon Strachan's successor as manager is appointed.
"Towards the end of that campaign I found it tough," said Naismith, who was sponsoring a Christmas lunch for homeless people in Glasgow with charity Loaves and Fishes.
"The manager had a great chat with me and said there was no point me travelling, 'you've not been playing at your club'.
"I understand it was the right thing not to take me but I found it slightly embarrassing. As a youngster you feel embarrassed when you are getting left out but when you are an older player I found it quite hard to take.
"I definitely want to get back playing so I can compete to be back in the Scotland squad. It's one of the proudest things I have done in my career, play for Scotland, and I want to continue doing that as long as I can."
The 31-year-old made three appearances for Norwich in August before injury struck.
"Being out for a period of time has made me realise the main thing is playing as many games as you can," he said.
"In the last few weeks, it's been tough to get back in. The new manager (Daniel Farke) came in during the summer and I had a really good pre-season, scoring goals and felt really fit. He made a few signings and had his idea of how he wanted to play and who he wanted to play.
"I have struggled from after I got my injury and that's something I will need to look at in January. I'll do as much as I can in the short term to do that but I don't think at my age you can afford to have too many months not playing when you are fit and ready to play."
Naismith was linked with a return to Ibrox in the summer and he admits he is keen to play football in his native country again at some stage.
"I do want to come back and play in Scotland and the older I've got, the more interest I have in terms of coaching and tactics, and what you should be doing as a player in games," he said.
"If I can do that for some of the young guys coming through in Scotland, then that's something I want to give back in that respect. But whether that's in the short term or long term, we need to wait and see."