SALE Sharks' Byron McGuigan has paid tribute to his team-mates after being selected by Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend in a 36-man squad for next month's autumn internationals against Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.

The 28-year-old has been in superb form for Sharks this season and currently tops the Premiership try-scoring charts having bagged six tries already.

And he says the role of his Sale team-mates and coaching staff has been key to his international recognition.

"It was a dream of mine to play for Scotland and I was always hopeful so to have been called up this morning was really exciting," McGuigan told the club's website.

"To be honest, my focus has just been on playing well for Sale.

"Fortunately, things have been going my way and the team have put me in good positions to score and I've been lucky enough to take the opportunities.

"It has been hard work. I've been at it for a long time now and I'm very excited and I'm hungrier than ever."

McGuigan has already represented Scotland at Sevens' level but says being picked for the full squad is a dream come true.

"Sevens is a totally different game to the 15-man game but, obviously, it was a great honour to play for the Sevens when I did," he added.

"For me it has been about working hard, first when I was at Exeter and then since moving to Sale.

"Now I'm just really excited at the call-up.

"Scotland have done really well of late. I'm lucky to be a part of that 36-man squad and then it is about trying to get into that 23-man match day squad.

"If I get selected for any of the three Tests I will then just focus on the task in hand.

"For now I'm just focused on doing my best for Sale.

"We've got a big job this Friday against Exeter which I'm really looking forward to.

"They are my old team and the reigning Premiership champions so it should be a really special game.

"So I'm really looking forward to that and then I'll be excited to go and meet up with the rest of the Scotland squad on Sunday."