Monday September 7th 2026
Edinburgh derby at Easter Road
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Ewan Hornell
Josh McPake put on a show in front of new Scotland manager, Sebastien Pocognoli, as he lit up Easter Road with a goal and assist to mark his Edinburgh Derby debut in a win for the Jambos.
After a stellar campaign with St Johnstone last year, racking up 19 goals, McPake made the switch to Hearts this summer. Pocognoli’s hiring should signal the start of a new era for the men’s national team and now after a string of stellar performances McPake’s setting his sights on being apart of it.
When asked whether he felt ready to don the national team jersey he stated:
“Yeah I do. Even when I was at St Johnstone people asked me if I was ready for the step up to Hearts and I said yes.
“I do feel like I’m ready for that step, but it’s not my decision to make and hopefully performances like tonight help my case.
“I’m just taking it one game at a time at the moment. I’m a Hearts player right now and I’ve still got a good few games until the international break.
“My full focus is on Hearts and things like that should come naturally.”
Life at Tynecastle did not get off to the smoothest start for McPake. He was left out of Hearts’ first European squad against Strum Graz, saw no minutes in an opening day defeat to Aberdeen and only briefly featured in a 6-1 loss to Benfica.
However, after a goal in a 4-0 win against Dundee United, McPake has now well and truly cemented his position, alongside Calvin Miller, as one of Wouter Vrancken’s dangermen on the wing.
McPake feels that after a challenging start against some tough European opposition the squad is finally starting to come together and properly execute how Vrancken wants them to play.
“We had a couple of tough fixtures at the start, especially as a new team gelling and with a new manager,” he said.
“Since then we have gelled and everyone’s nailed down the way the manager wants to play.
“He wants questions and people to ask what they need to do. I feel that openness helps.”
For Hearts’ first goal, McPake was able to isolate Felix Passlack and effortlessly breeze past the German before finding James Wilson. But, it was the third that really stole the show. He glided through Hibs bodies leaving Passlack, Miguel Chaiwa and Jason Kerr in his wake before slotting the ball home past Raphael Sallinger to make it 3-1.
“I’ve got that confidence at the moment to just get at my fullback as quick as I can.
“As soon as I get the ball I’m looking to drive at him and make sure I get in and around the box.
“I back myself one vs one going forward. I feel the manager has that confidence in me as well and that’s what he says – as soon as I gets out to you, take those one vs one battles and back yourself.”
Strutting past men and frightening defenders may be McPake’s calling card, but Vrancken has stressed to him the importance of work rate on both sides of the ball
“The manager is very demanding on doing the hard yards back the way, I think Calvin (Miller) would tell you the same thing.
“I like the way he puts it – if you do the hard yards going back the way you get that freedom going forward.”
Post-Match McPake was serenaded by the Hearts cohort with a rendition of ABBA’s Dancing Queen. McPake’s version was born last season with St Johnstone, but has made the transfer over to Tynecastle with the winger.
“It was amazing,” McPake reflected after hearing his song.
“When I was at St Johnstone I wasn’t sure if it was going to make it over here, but it definitely
did.”
It was Claudio Braga who stole the rhythmic hearts of the Jambo faithful last season, but now musical jealousy may be rife as their could be a new anthem on the Gorgie terraces.
“Actually when it was getting sung he said that to me, I don’t think he was to happy, but no listen I’m pleased.”
Tweet Share on Facebook
