Williams tips McDonald to fire

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13 August 2012-AAP

Rhys Williams (L) congratulates his Middlesbrough and Australia team-mate Scott McDonald after his goal against Peterborough in December

Buddies... Rhys Williams (L) congratulates his Middlesbrough and Australia team-mate Scott McDonald after his goal against Peterborough in December. (Action)

Australia defender Rhys Williams backed his Middlesborough teammate Scott McDonald to fire for the Socceroos in the international against Scotland on Thursday (AEST).

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A regular goal-scorer at club level, including netting nine goals for Middlesbrough last season, McDonald has failed to score in 25 appearances for Australia.

Williams, who was recently handed the captain's armband for Middlesbrough's 2012-2013 English Championship campaign, believes the former Celtic striker has plenty to offer the national team.

"He's a brilliant player. I think once he gets that monkey off his back, I think he'll start putting them in the net all the time - he's that type of player," Williams said.

"I think he's a lot on confidence and that first goal, when it comes, will be massive for him and also the country.

"I just hope that he can get that goal, I know he's capable of it and he's such a good player that I'm surprised it hasn't come a lot sooner."

Selected in the 20-man squad for the match at the Easter Road stadium in Edinburgh, McDonald first has to convince Socceroos coach Holger Osieck to give him a start in the country where he's done plenty of damage at club level , scoring 51 goals from 88 appearances for Celtic between 2007 and 2010.

McDonald and Williams are among a handful of Socceroos bound for the Scottish capital desperate to push their claim for a more permanent starting spot in the green and gold.

While McDonald has been in the wilderness, Williams has enjoyed semi-regular game time for Australia.

"Every game is massive. Hopefully I'll get some minutes in Scotland. I missed out the last three games," Williams said.

"It's definitely important for the manager, he's brought in a couple of new players to have a look at and I think he might experiment a bit more.

"It's great to be called up again. I'll never take my spot for granted. I just need to keep going and I need to force my way back in the team.

"Jade North did brilliant in the last few games and he's missed out on these through injury so hopefully that will be the opening for me to hopefully show them what I can do again and get myself in contention for the big World Cup qualifiers."