Is Hearts’ McPake poised to gatecrash Pocognoli’s Scotland squad?

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

This video can not be played

Figure caption,

Watch Hearts beat 10-man Hibs to win Edinburgh derby

• Published4 minutes ago

On the eve of the Scottish FA’s highly-anticipated summit on youth development in Scotland, one of the country’s own stole the show in a thrilling Edinburgh derby.

And as it happened, the new national team head coach, Sebastien Pocognoli, was in the Easter Road stands as Josh McPake spearheaded Hearts’ entertaining victory over Hibernian.

Even before the Belgian was appointed, there were some calls from the Tartan Army to include the 25-year-old winger, such has been his emphatic start to life in Gorgie since making the switch from St Johnstone in the summer.

The clamour for his inclusion is now becoming inescapable.

A Rangers youth product, the question hanging over McPake since signing his pre-contract with Hearts in January, was could he cut it among the big boys.

Under the lights in Leith, McPake waltzed through the weak Hibs backline before bending a beautiful effort beyond Raphael Sallinger – with a deflection off Grant Hanley – sparking bedlam among the travelling supporters behind the goal.

• Thrilling Hearts earn Edinburgh derby win over 10-man Hibs

• Latest Hearts news, analysis and fan views

• Get Hearts news notifications in the BBC Sport app

  • Published18 June 2023

‘You don’t know which way he will go’

The talk of the toon are the boys in maroon, but the chat in all corners of the country is about McPake. He really is the man of the moment.

In eight games, he has registered two goals and four assists for an increasingly easy-on-the-eye Hearts side, who are emerging as contenders for the campaign’s great entertainers.

In the first 30 minutes at the home of their city rivals, they were magnificent. McPake – along with fellow Scotland hopeful Calvin Miller – was unplayable, hugging the touchline and leaving home full-back Felix Passlack for dust.

He destroyed the former Borussia Dortmund defender before teeing up James Wilson’s opener, with former Hearts striker Ryan Stevenson explaining that was the perfect example of how much of a handful he is.

“It is so hard for defenders when wingers play on the opposite side,” Stevenson said on Sportsound. “They always want to come on the inside, but he is happy to go on the outside and feint and go on his left side.

“One of his biggest attributes is you don’t know which way he will go.”

That was evident again when McPake took a stroll for his superb solo goal, one he was desperate for in his first derby.

“I thought we started the game really, really well,” McPake told BBC Sport Scotland. “Obviously, I got the assist in the first half, but I really, really wanted the goal.”

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

This video can not be played

Figure caption,

What a run and finish! – McPake lights up Edinburgh derby

‘He’s the standout at present’

While he was happy to admit his desire to get on the scoresheet, the winger was a little more reluctant to indulge in any Scotland call-up conversation.

As understandable and mature as that may be, it won’t stop the rest of us doing so. But McPake is more reserved than most because of his tricky route to the top.

After coming through the Rangers ranks, he was sent out on loan six times, before finally settling at Stirling Albion in League 1.

Impressing, he caught the eye of St Johnstone, albeit he was initially involved in their top-flight relegation.

It was in the second-tier last term where McPake started to shine. Head and shoulders above the rest, Derek McInnes’ Hearts secured his services on a pre-contract. Then McInnes left Tynecastle for Ibrox.

“These things happen in football,” explained McPake, who couldn’t hide his appreciation for Vrancken.

Are Hearts derby heroes ready for Scotland?

03/09/26

Listen on Sounds

That feeling is reciprocated. Even if the attacker was left out of Hearts initial European squad.

“It was a difficult start and he had to adapt in several ways and the things we wanted to see and be decisive in certain moments,” the head coach said.

“But he did great and picked up those things and he is really strong in defence as well as offence and I’m pleased to see this happening.”

And it appears Vrancken isn’t the only one, with the winger dominating much of the post-match discussions.

“I know he has had loan moves, but it is about getting the right environment and the right manager,” former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan said on Sportsound.

“Now he has landed with Wouter Vrancken and I think he will be a manager who will enhance his career.

“When they get him isolated, he puts defenders under pressure.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he is named in the next Scotland squad because he is the standout at present.”

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

This video can not be played

Figure caption,

Vrancken makes case for Wilson, McPake and Miller call ups

‘There is room for freshness’

While McPake might be the standout, he has a more than decent support act.

Fellow forwards Miller and Wilson are in the mix for involvement in the upcoming Nations League games this month, too.

Teenager Wilson has already been capped, but since spending the second half of last season on loan with Tottenham Hotspur’s under-21 side, he has taken his game up a notch.

His second derby goal at Easter Road will have done his hopes of a national team return no harm – nor will his wonderstrike against Rapid Vienna – with Stevenson adding he showed “total striker’s instinct”.

“We have to come to the point with a new manager coming in for Scotland, there is room to bring in a bit of freshness,” he added.

Not dominating the discourse as much as last week for his heroics in Austria, hirpling into the box to score in extra-time and force penalties before netting his own, Miller strengthened his case yet again for an impressive performance.

He was spoken off in some circles as an outside shout for a World Cup spot following his superb Falkirk form, but that always seemed too much of a stretch.

But now, he and his team-mates are front and centre, catching the eye of everyone watching. Mr Pocognoli, are you watching?