91Èȱ¬

Charlie Adam hopes his goalscoring form with Stoke City in recent weeks will catch the eye of Scotland manager Gordon Strachan.

The midfielder, 29, has scored four goals in his team's last six Premier League games and is relishing being a City regular.

"It's been frustrating when I wasn't playing weekly," he told 91Èȱ¬ Scotland.

"But I'm confident when I am playing well, scoring goals, dictating games, I can get in to the Scotland side."

Adam's last game for Scotland was in a friendly against Poland last March and he admits he has been in only occasional contact with Strachan by text since then.

However, he hopes he has played his way into contention for Scotland's Euro 2016 qualifier against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin next month.

"I always knew when I got back playing and scoring goals I'd have a chance of getting in the squad, and that's all you can do," said Adam on 91Èȱ¬ Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

"It's been great the last few weeks, scoring a few goals and finishing the season well.

"You can only give the manager a headache. He has a settled squad at the moment but performances in the Premier League dictate giving yourself an opportunity to get back in the team.

"I don't want to be sat on the couch next summer and Scotland have qualified for France. It's not for me.

"I want to force my way back in and only performances at club level will dictate that."

The former Rangers, Blackpool and Liverpool player accepts that he has his work cut out to add to his 25 caps, noting that players such as Darren Fletcher are not automatic picks.

"You've just got to look at the quality that we've got," Adam said of the Scotland squad.

"I think since Gordon has come in he has managed to get 30-32 players that are good enough to play for the national team.

"That is obviously leaving six to eight players out of every squad and they want to be part of it. Hopefully their performances will push the lads that have got the jersey at the moment.

"His main focus is on players that are in the squad. I know he'll have people at the games so hopefully performances over the last two months or so could warrant a place in the squad."

Adam revealed a frustration that while he accepted not playing every week for Stoke hampered his international chances, others in a similar position were being selected for Scotland.

"You need to play well for your club before you get an opportunity to play for your country, everybody knows that," he said.

"But the biggest thing for me was there were lads not playing for their club who have been playing for Scotland regularly for the last couple of years or so.

"You've just got to take it on the chin."