EDWARDS’ RUSSIAN GOAL

HIS wonder strike secured a safe passage for Partick Thistle into the quarterfinals of the Betfred Cup — and a home meeting with Rangers. Now Ryan Edwards is hoping his spectacular goal against St Johnstone on Tuesday will also help book him on a plane to Russia for the 2018 World Cup. The 23-year-old’s native Australia face qualifiers against Japan in Saitama on August 31 and Thailand in Melbourne five days later. Ange Postecoglou’s side need just four points from two matches to all but make certain of their place at the finals next summer. And Edwards hopes his Perth heroics in Thistle’s 3-0 win over Saints aids his case for selection. ‘There is a squad being announced for Japan and Thailand, so, hopefully, I’ll hear by the weekend if I am going to be in it,’ said the midfielder, who is likely to face Celtic in the league tomorrow night. ‘If the manager is watching the St Johnstone game it would not do me any harm. Hopefully they show the goals on TV back home. ‘I’ve heard from the boys in the international team that the manager watches everything, so it’s positive.’ Socceroos head coach Postecoglou has a track record of picking players in Scotland. And Edwards hopes to become the latest to find being in the Premiership helps, not hinders, his chances of being called up by his country. ‘Scottish football is improving. And the Aussie players who have been based here and involved with the national team have done well,’ he said. ‘Celtic’s Tom Rogic and Jackson Irvine, when he was at Ross County, have both been in the international set up. ‘Hopefully playing in this league helps me because there is a focus on it and they know back home that it is a good standard.’