Scotland beat Austria

O'Connor, 24, had been in international exile since failing to report for duty when Scotland played Ukraine last year.

But following the appointment of Alex McLeish as manager, the Lokomotiv Moscow striker apologised and was eventually recalled following a match-winning goal in the Russian Cup final for Lokomotiv.

And he was handed a start after injury deprived the Scots of their first-choice strikeforce, repaying the faith put in him with a low 59th minute strike past Helge Payer after good hold-up play by Kris Boyd.

O'Connor was lively and strong and understandably delighted with the goal.

"I just want to move on now and it was great to be picked," he said afterwards. "Scoring repayed that a little and I'm just looking to keep on.

"I've not been starting much for Lokomotiv and I was touch-and-go for this game with a little bug, but it was alright in the end.

"I'm just really happy to be back playing for Scotland again."

The hosts started the brighter in the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium stadium and had an early shout for a penalty turned down when Christian Fuchs went down under pressure from a nervous-looking Gary Caldwell, but nothing was given.

Scotland then had a chance to take the lead when Gary Naysmith surged through on the left, but Boyd could not connect properly with the overhead, unmarked at the back post, and his finish trickled just wide.

Boyd then had two more chances before the break, while Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher opted to take a touch on an excellent O'Connor flick when he had time and space to volley in.

The second half was a muted affair, Austria restriced to long-range shots with Scotland slowing the tempo, but the game burst into life when Boyd took the ball on his chest and fed it wide right to O'Connor, who cut back onto his left and rifled past Payer.

Austria pushed for an equaliser, with Markus Katzer hitting the woodwork, but Scotland held on for a morale-boosting win ahead of next week's qualifer against the Faroe Islands.