FORMER Musselburgh rugby ace Alun Walker admitted that he was flattered by speculation linking him with the Scotland squad ahead of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.

Hooker Walker, 30, scored two tries as Ealing Trailfinders beat Saracens last month, but it was not enough to propel him into the Scotland set-up, with uncapped David Cherry and Ewan Ashman providing back-up to Grant Stewart and George Turner in the wake of injuries to front-line duo Fraser Brown and Stuart McInally.

Scotland take on England tomorrow (Saturday) in a 4.45pm kick-off.

And while the former Musselburgh man, who also spent time with North Berwick as a youngster, missed out this time, he still hopes he may have a future at the top level.

He said: “If something like that was to come up, obviously it would be a great accomplishment, but first and foremost I’m focused on doing my job with Ealing.

“Barney Maddison [Ealing team-mate] is always singing Flower of Scotland round the club, so there’s always a few jokes flying about from the boys.”

Walker, who was an unused replacement when Scotland A beat England Saxons in 2013, said: “That was a long time ago.”

But he added that he does still harbour hopes of making it to the top of the game.

“If you’re playing rugby competitively, [international rugby] has to be something that’s in your mind,” he said.

“It’s something I think about but, whether the opportunity comes around or doesn’t, it’s completely out of my control.

“I’m here to play rugby and perform to the best of my abilities.

“If the opportunity did come up, you’d be stupid not to bite their hand off and take it, but there’s a lot of good young players kicking around.

“The big one for me is pushing Ealing Trailfinders as high as we can go.”

After defeating former European and English champions Saracens, Walker is targeting promotion, and cited the rise of Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs from the lower leagues to the upper echelons of the English game as examples he would like Ealing to follow.

He said: “Seven years ago, I was sold a dream by Wardy [Ben Ward, director of rugby] about where he wanted the club to go.

“It’s one of those things I bought into and still buy into now.

“I want to take this club all the way, if we can.

“You see the Cinderella stories of Exeter and Bristol – whether it happens in my time or after my time, I want to be remembered as being part of it.

“Year on year, we’re getting closer to achieving that goal.

“We put our hands up and put ourselves in the spotlight against Saracens and now it’s a case of performing consistently to give ourselves the best shot.”