From Rangers prospect to homeless

Josh McPake was Rangers academy player of the year in 2019 but made just one appearance before six loan moves left him without a club by September 2023.

Six clubs, no permanent home

McPake was loaned to Dundee, Greenock Morton, Harrogate Town, Morecambe, Tranmere Rovers, and Queen's Park but never signed permanently by any of them.

Nearly six months without a club

After leaving Rangers in September 2023, McPake trained with several clubs but endured knocks and setbacks before Stirling Albion signed him on a short-term deal in early 2024.

Stirling boss saw his hunger

Darren Young, Stirling's manager, recalled McPake's work ethic: he helped put balls away after training and did extra shooting drills despite being clearly above the League 1 level.

“He came into training and he was brilliant - he couldn't have done any more.”

The penny dropped at Stirling

Young helped McPake understand he needed to work as hard defensively as he did offensively. McPake accepted the feedback and improved his tracking back.

“Some players don't, some players kind of have that attitude of, 'I can do it going forward, I don't need to do it going back,' but the penny dropped.”

St Johnstone move, then benched

McPake earned a two-year deal with St Johnstone after Stirling's relegation but struggled to break into Craig Levein's and then Simo Valakari's teams.

The brutal wake-up call

In January 2025, St Johnstone made McPake available in the transfer window but couldn't find him any clubs. Valakari said nobody wanted him.

“The truth is, nobody wanted him. We couldn't find him any clubs.”

The turning point arrived

McPake started St Johnstone's first Premiership game after the winter window and kept his place through the end of the season, registering three assists.

Championship domination begins

McPake scored a hat-trick on the opening weekend of the Championship season and finished with 16 goals as St Johnstone won the title.

Hearts came calling

Hearts agreed a pre-contract with McPake in January 2025 while he was dominating the Championship. He stayed focused on winning the title with St Johnstone first.

Back in the Premiership

McPake joined Hearts but faced a coaching change when Derek McInnes left for Rangers. Under Wouter Vrancken, he has eight goal involvements in 11 games.

Scotland call comes through

McPake's strong start at Hearts earned him a call-up to Sebastian Pocognoli's Scotland squad for the Nations League, capping a remarkable three-year turnaround.

McPake reflects on the journey

McPake said he wouldn't change his journey and feels the setbacks taught him what he needed to become the player he is now. He believes he still has more to give.

“If you want something enough and work hard for it, you can achieve it.”