Defender Gasparotto was recently named in the full national squad for a World Cup qualifying double header against Belize, which they won over two legs.

The 20-year-old was subsequently selected for the Canadian Men’s Under-23 Olympic qualifying matches against the USA, Panama and Cuba, and departs tomorrow.

With the tournament taking place between 1 October and 13 October, Gasparotto is guaranteed to miss the Ton’s next two Championship matches.

He was already out of Sunday’s clash with parent club Rangers due to the terms of the loan agreement and will be away with Canada whilst Jim Duffy’s men travel to Stark’s Park to face Raith Rovers.

He is available for this evening’s cup clash, though, and says and he is looking to shine against the Steelmen and see the Ton secure a quarter-final spot before jetting off across the pond.

He told the Tele: “It was great to be involved with Canada against Belize — we got a good result to go through and that was a great experience — and I’m going away tomorrow for Olympic qualifying.

“That will be for just under a couple of weeks. We are in a group with America, Panama and Cuba and have a good group of young players. It works out well because I can’t play against Rangers anyway and will only miss the one game against Raith Rovers.

“I’m still available to play tonight against Motherwell and I’m looking forward to it and hoping to be involved.

“These are the games you want to play in. We’re all looking forward to it and I’m looking to go and show what I can do [playing] against my first Premiership opposition.

“Saturday was my first full game in two weeks but I was happy with the performance I put in and I’m looking to build on that against Motherwell and then when I’m away with Canada.” Gasparotto netted an unfortunate own goal against Queen of the South at the weekend but the mature centre half kept the incident in perspective and refused to let it upset him.

He explained: “It was obviously disappointing. You never want to score an own goal, especially when you’re winning.

“I tried to fight the boy off and it’s hit my head and gone. It’s one of those things that happens in football and it’s unlucky, so you just pick yourself up and get on with the game. In terms of the result, we were delighted. If you’d offered us a point before the game we would have taken it, so on a positive note we got that, and we’re still up there in the top half of the table.

“And after a good performance on Saturday, the boys are high on confidence and looking to carry that into the cup game.

“We’re in a good position because people expect the Premiership teams to always come and win, but that gives us an edge because being an underdog takes the pressure off sometimes.

“We’re enjoying our football, we’re up for it and we’re going to take the game to them and hopefully get into the next round.”