Josh McPake's Scotland call-up traced to Hearts boss heart-to-heart

Vrancken chat sparked turnaround

Former Rangers youth winger Josh McPake's recent fine form and Scotland call-up followed a discussion with Heart of Midlothian head coach Wouter Vrancken about why the 25-year-old had been omitted from their European squad, the Edinburgh Evening News reports.

McPake, who earned his maiden Scotland call-up in September (BBC Sport, 22 September), has become a key figure for Hearts after an unconventional route through the Scottish game that included spells out of the professional game entirely.

"Former Rangers youth winger Josh McPake's recent fine form and Scotland call-up followed a discussion with Heart of Midlothian head coach Wouter Vrancken about why the 25-year-old had been omitted from their European squad," the report said.