Hearts forward Josh McPake, 25, has been named in manager Sébastien Pocognoli’s inaugural Scotland squad for the Nations League. The former club‑less winger’s rapid ascent from Scottish League 1 to the national team has captured the country’s attention.
Hearts winger Josh McPake has secured his first senior Scotland call‑up, joining a 28‑man squad announced on September 15, 2026 for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. The selection, made by new Scotland manager Sébastien Pocognoli, places McPake among six fresh faces in the roster, signalling the Belgian’s intent to refresh the attacking options (source [3]).
McPake’s journey to the national team has been anything but linear. Three years ago he was without a club, and just twenty months prior he described himself as “in the shop window but no‑one wanted him.” After stints in the Rangers academy, a spell in Scottish League 1 with Stirling Albion, and a period on the fringes at St Johnstone, he broke through at Hearts, where his performances have earned him both fan adulation and a place in the national setup (original content).
The September 15 announcement also listed fellow newcomers Stephen Welsh, Colby Donovan, Luis Binks, Luke Graham and Robbie Ure, alongside a recall for Hull striker Oli McBurnie. Goalkeepers Scott Bain and Jon McCracken, midfielder Lennon Miller and attackers James Wilson and Kieron Bowie were also reinstated after missing Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad (source [3]).
Speaking after the news, McPake expressed his excitement, describing the experience as the culmination of “a mad few years” and noting that the call‑up feels like “having the time of his life” for both him and Hearts supporters (source [7]).
Scotland’s Nations League campaign will kick off with a match against Slovenia on September 27, followed by fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland. The inclusion of McPake adds pace and creativity to a squad that has undergone significant turnover, and his performance in the upcoming games will be closely watched by both club and country fans.