New arrival Rhodes is made to feel at home by his heroes

The 21-year-old Huddersfield striker propelled himself into Craig Levein’s thoughts for the friendly against Cyprus after hitting five goals in Scotland’s previous two UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifiers and continued his prolific form in the League One.

The goalscoring spree has given him the chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Scotland captain Darren Fletcher and Rhodes could not contain his excitement after his first training session at the squad’s base in Limassol yesterday.

But he does not intend to waste the week being overawed in their company as he vowed to learn any lesson he could and savour each moment ahead of the friendly in Larnaca on Friday.

“It’s something that has not really sunk in just yet,” Rhodes said.

“Walking round the corridors and sitting at meals alongside Darren Fletcher and so many good players, there is still a big kid in me that’s in awe.

“My jaw is dropping at the sight of being around a few of these good players.

“I had never thought I would be involved in international football until these last six months, even being picked for the under-21s has all happened so quickly.”

Levein has given a strong hint that Rhodes will be involved on Friday evening but the forward said: “I’m not even thinking about the game or coming on.

“It’s just a matter of getting through each training session, seeing what each player is like and just taking in the moment.

“Some of the players have been around for so long and played at the top of their game, week in and week out.

“It’s good for someone young like myself to see what they’re doing day in and day out and how they go about their business to prepare for the game.

“There are fantastic Premiership and SPL players in there and there’s me from League One, which is no disrespect to League One. But they are fantastic footballers and world famous so just to be sharing the same training field is a dream come true.

“If I can learn a few bits every day, moments at a time, hopefully I will be better and a stronger person going back to Huddersfield.”

Levein has deliberately nurtured a club-type atmosphere in the squad and Rhodes has not felt like an outsider despite his unfamiliarity with the group and whole experience.

“I’m quite quiet as a person, both on and off the field,” said the Oldham-born forward, who qualifies for Scotland through the five-year schooling rule.

“I wouldn’t have a bad word to say about any of them, they have made me feel really at home and one of the squad.”