SHAUN MALONEY can end weeks of frustration tonight by re-establishing himself as a Scotland player.

By his own admission, the former Celtic star has not seen as much action as he would like during Aston Vila's season.

That has caused Maloney to once more re-assess his position, though speculation he may be contemplating a shock move to Ibrox seems way off the mark.

A return to Paradise, on the other hand, would be a good fit for both parties. And Maloney concedes retracing his steps to the SPL is something he would like to do, but adding the caveat; "One day".

Having moved to Villa for £1million 18 months ago, it would take significantly more to encourage the Premiership club to sell.

Maloney plans to take stock only after he hears the final whistle in the AXA Arena here in Prague tonight, and would relish the chance to kick-start a Scotland career which has stalled.

Twelve months ago, he ended the season by scoring his first ever international goal in the Euro 2008 victory in the Faroes.

But he has failed to kick on, and the 25-year-old was bitterly disappointed by his showing when he won his 10th cap in George Burley's first game in charge, against Croatia in March.

That's one of the reasons he was determined to report for duty for this game against the Czechs. Maloney said: "It has not gone as well as I would have liked. It's been all right at Villa. It's a very good club and the fans are passionate.

"But, unfortunately, I'm not playing as much as I'd like. And I can't expect to play regularly for my country when I'm not playing regularly for my club."

The call-offs from this trip have opened the door once again for Maloney, and he intends to make the most of the opportunity. He said: "In our last game, I didn't exactly set the world alight. So I want to do much better this time."

Of course, had things gone our way, Maloney might have been pushing for a place in a Scotland side heading to the Euro finals. And he concedes that, painful as it was to miss out back last Autumn, it is only now as the build-up to the finals gets into full swing that the realisation just what they are missing bites.

He said: "With the advertising jingles coming on TV, it is really starting to hit home that we came so close. But that just makes you hungrier to do well in the World Cup qualifiers."