Josh McPake, now in his first Scotland national team camp, has had a journey marked by twists and turns since being without a club three years ago. Under new Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli, McPake has earned a chance to represent his country in upcoming Nations League matches. His career has taken him from being a highly touted prospect at Rangers' academy to a series of loan spells at various clubs, including Dundee, Greenock Morton, Harrogate Town, Morecambe, Tranmere Rovers, and Queen's Park, before joining Stirling Albion on a short-term deal in September 2023. McPake was named player of the year in 2019 at Rangers' academy and made his first and only appearance for the first team in a Europa League qualifier against Gibraltar's St Joseph's. However, this was followed by a series of loan moves. While on loan with Stirling Albion, McPake scored the winning goal for Scotland's Under-19 team against Germany, yet he still faced challenges in securing a permanent move. Former Stirling Albion manager Darren Young praised McPake's work ethic, saying he was "head and shoulders above the rest" and that his talent was clear. Young also noted that Stirling had considered signing McPake when he became available but were forced to change plans due to an injury to another player. McPake's move to St Johnstone in 2024 was seen as a fresh start, but he struggled to break into the first team under managers Craig Levein and Simo Valakari. Valakari revealed that McPake was released in January 2025 as St Johnstone fought for survival in the Premiership, but "nobody wanted him," and the club couldn't find him a new team. This experience served as a "wake-up call" for McPake, leading him to focus on refining his game. McPake made his first Premiership appearance for St Johnstone in their post-split games and provided three assists before the club was relegated. This set the stage for a successful Championship campaign, where he scored 16 goals and helped St Johnstone win the league title. His performances caught the attention of Hearts, who agreed to a pre-contract in January 2025. Despite the move, McPake remained committed to repaying St Johnstone before joining Hearts. At Hearts, McPake has made a smooth return to the Premiership, contributing eight goal involvements in 11 games, including a goal and an assist in the Edinburgh derby. His performances have made it "nigh impossible" for Pocognoli to leave him out of his plans. McPake has stated he "wouldn't change his journey for anything" and believes the setbacks he faced have helped shape him into the player he is today. He remains determined to continue working hard and proving his worth on the field.