Albion star Craig Mackail-Smith has been urged to make one last effort of a marathon season as he chases a place in Scotland’s World Cup qualifiers.

Mackail-Smith was yesterday confirmed in Scotland’s squad to play a friendly against the USA later this month.

The hard-working Seagulls striker will spend almost a week training in temperatures of 30degC in Florida.

Scotland will work for five days in Orlando before heading north to take on Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA side at the home of Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team on Saturday, May 26.

Mackail-Smith, who is one of five strikers in the squad, will then fly to New Zealand for a summer holiday.

Scotland boss Craig Levein has reported intense competition for places in the national squad.

He said: “The toughest thing is that they have had a long hard season and it is about getting one more game out of them.

“But it is also about getting them together and building on the team spirit that they have created for themselves.

"Every time we get together it is a chance to enhance that, which is almost as important to me as the game although we desperately want to win the match.”

Mackail-Smith finished the 2010-11 season late due to play-off success with Peterborough and started 44 games for Albion last season, as well playing his part for the national team.

Levein has not selected Albion midfielder Liam Bridcutt for the Florida trip but has him in mind for the friendly at home to Australia in August.