Garry O'Connor believes home victories over Lithuania, Georgia and World Cup winners Italy will be enough to take Scotland to Euro 2008.

The Lokomotiv Moscow striker thought he was "finished" in the international game when he was ostracised for failing to join up with his Scotland team-mates for their flight to Ukraine last October.

That no-show kept him out of the frame for a short while, but O'Connor has returned with two goals in two games, including the second strike in last night's 2-0 win over the Faroe Islands in Toftir, a close-range finish after his header was saved.

Scotland stand third in their qualifying group, Group B, behind France and Italy who both also recorded wins on Wednesday. Ukraine, in fourth place, are also in the frame.

France are firm favourites to top the group, meaning second place is the realistic target for the Scots.

"I think we can push Italy all the way, Ukraine too," said 24-year-old O'Connor.

"If we win our home games I think we're going to go through.

"Scotland at home are really difficult to beat.

"We've got to be very professional, and if we can try to take some points away from home I think we've got a great chance."

O'Connor was recalled for the friendly against Austria last week, after being visited by manager Alex McLeish's assistant Andy Watson in Moscow.

He paid tribute to the management team of McLeish, Watson and Roy Aitken for handing him a second chance, and insists he has matured greatly.

O'Connor told BBC Radio Scotland: "I thought my career was finished with the national team, so all luck to Alex, Andy and Roy and hopefully I'm repaying them with what I'm doing on the field."

He added: "Alex has brought me back in and I'm delighted with that decision, and as I've scored a couple of goals I've got to give them to the fans.

"I've been silly at times of my career but I'm a professional player now, I realise that, and I've got to be positive, and I've just got to look forward to the future and hopefully things can be better for me."

Scotland will be without suspended captain Barry Ferguson for the next qualifier, the September 8 home game against Lithuania, and O'Connor accepts that will weaken the team for a crucial fixture.

"He's going to be a 'massive miss'," said O'Connor.

"He's a great player but you've got players who can step into the team now and you maybe never had that in the past.

"The players will miss Barry but we've got to be positive."

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