---
title: "Josh McPake reflects on Rangers exit after Scotland call-up"
canonical: "https://readrangers.com/2026/09/23/josh-mcpake-scotland-call-up-rangers-exit/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Graeme Hanna"
section: "Rangers News"
published: "2026-09-23T20:46:27Z"
modified: "2026-09-23T20:46:27Z"
---

# Josh McPake reflects on Rangers exit after Scotland call-up

**Josh McPake has received his first Scotland call-up after head coach Sebastien Pocognoli contacted the Hearts winger by text and phone.**

The 24-year-old left Rangers in 2023 after terminating the final year of his contract at Ibrox.

His rise to the senior squad marks a significant moment in a career that has taken him through five divisions.

McPake described the moment he learned of his selection.

> “I got a text from the Scotland manager on Monday night, just asking for a call whenever I was free.

He followed up on that call soon after.

> “I got that call – and I was absolutely buzzing. I phoned my family straight away.

Pocognoli’s decision brings McPake into the national team setup for the first time. It rewards a run of form that has followed years of rebuilding lower down the football pyramid.

## How Josh McPake Rebuilt His Career After Rangers Exit

McPake came through the Rangers academy but made only one competitive first-team appearance for the club.

He came on as a substitute against Gibraltar side St Joseph’s under then-manager Steven Gerrard.

He spent the following seasons out on loan at Dundee, Morton, Harrogate Town, Morecambe and Tranmere Rovers as he searched for regular football.

That period was part of the wider [youth pathway developments](https://readrangers.com/2026/09/16/andrew-cavenagh/) that have shaped how young players move through the club. Not too many have been successful graduates.

At 22, with his development stalling, McPake chose to terminate the final year of his Rangers contract.

He had no other offers on the table when he made that decision, so he dropped into Scottish League One to sign for Stirling Albion.

That decision was a brave one.

Speaking in an [interview with the Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-decision-gave-josh-mcpake-37669250), McPake reflected on that period without regret.

> “I wouldn’t change my journey for anything, to be honest with you,
>
> “I think I had to come through that to get to where I’m at now, just because there was a lot of ups and downs, maybe more downs than ups at that stage of my career.

McPake was clear that the drop in level was necessary rather than a setback.

> “I can only speak for myself but I feel like I needed that, going down the levels and showing what you’re all about, and that grind to get back up.”

## From Lower-League Grind to Hearts and Scotland

His performances at Stirling Albion caught the eye of Craig Levein, who brought McPake back into the Scottish Premiership at St Johnstone.

Working under now-manager Simo Valakari, McPake won two Championship Player of the Year awards as the Perth club pushed for promotion.

That form firmly re-established him as a top-flight prospect and echoed the progress of other [young Scottish talents](https://readrangers.com/2026/09/16/kyle-glasgow/) working their way up the leagues.

That form led to a summer move to Hearts, where McPake has already featured against Benfica and Rapid Vienna. His domestic and European involvement elsewhere underlines his standing at Tynecastle, and the journey that continues.

The immediate challenge is to consolidate his progress at Tynecastle, while showing he belongs at that level.

McPake played down any talk of international recognition before the call came.

> “I’ve never thought it was realistic, I was just focusing on doing what I can do for Hearts because I’m still new in the door.”

## Scotland Schedule and Upcoming International Timeline

McPake has now joined up with the national squad for the first time.

He was called into Pocognoli’s plans ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures.

Further squad detail appears in our coverage of the group [in the national team setup](https://readrangers.com/2026/09/15/scotland-squad/).

For a player who left Rangers with no guarantees, the call-up is the clearest possible validation of the path he chose.

McPake’s route to the Scotland squad began with a single substitute appearance under Steven Gerrard, before years across five divisions.

It stands as one of the more unlikely paths to international recognition in the current group, and a learning curve for youngsters to observe.