Is Hearts' McPake poised to gatecrash Pocognoli's Scotland squad?

On the eve of the Scottish FA's highly-anticipated summit on youth development in Scotland, one of the country's own stole the show in a thrilling Edinburgh derby. And as it happened, the new national team head coach, Sebastien Pocognoli, was in the Easter Road stands as Josh McPake spearheaded Hearts' entertaining victory over Hibernian. Even before the Belgian was appointed, there were some calls from the Tartan Army to include the 25-year-old winger, such has been his emphatic start to life in Gorgie since making the switch from St Johnstone in the summer. The clamour for his inclusion is now becoming inescapable. A Rangers youth product, the question hanging over McPake since signing his pre-contract with Hearts in January, was could he cut it among the big boys. Under the lights in Leith, McPake waltzed through the weak Hibs backline before bending a beautiful effort beyond Raphael Sallinger - with a deflection off Grant Hanley - sparking bedlam among the travelling supporters behind the goal. 'You don't know which way he will go' The talk of the toon are the boys in maroon, but the chat in all corners of the country is about McPake. He really is the man of the moment. In eight games, he has registered two goals and four assists for an increasingly easy-on-the-eye Hearts side, who are emerging as contenders for the campaign's great entertainers. In the first 30 minutes at the home of their city rivals, they were magnificent. McPake - along with fellow Scotland hopeful Calvin Miller - was unplayable, hugging the touchline and leaving home full-back Felix Passlack for dust. He destroyed the former Borussia Dortmund defender before teeing up James Wilson's opener, with former Hearts striker Ryan Stevenson explaining that was the perfect example of how much of a handful he is. "It is so hard for defenders when wingers play on the opposite side," Stevenson said on Sportsound. "They always want to come on the inside, but he is happy to go on the outside and feint and go on his left side. "One of his biggest attributes is you don't know which way he will go." That was evident again when McPake took a stroll for his superb solo goal, one he was desperate for in his first derby. "I thought we started the game really, really well," McPake told sources Scotland. "Obviously, I got the assist in the first half, but I really, really wanted the goal." 'He's the standout at present' While he was happy to admit his desire to get on the scoresheet, the winger was a little more reluctant to indulge in any Scotland call-up conversation. As understandable and mature as that may be, it won't stop the rest of us doing so. But McPake is more reserved than most because of his tricky route to the top. After coming through the Rangers ranks, he was sent out on loan six times, before finally settling at Stirling Albion in League 1. Impressing, he caught the eye of St Johnstone, albeit he was initially involved in their top-flight relegation. It was in the second-tier last term where McPake started to shine. Head and shoulders above the rest, Derek McInnes' Hearts secured his services on a pre-contract. Then McInnes left Tynecastle for Ibrox. "These things happen in football," explained McPake, who couldn't hide his appreciation for Vrancken. Are Hearts derby heroes ready for Scotland? 03/09/26 That feeling is reciprocated. Even if the attacker was left out of Hearts initial European squad. "It was a difficult start and he had to adapt in several ways and the things we wanted to see and be decisive in certain moments," the head coach said. "But he did great and picked up those things and he is really strong in defence as well as offence and I'm pleased to see this happening." And it appears Vrancken isn't the only one, with the winger dominating much of the post-match discussions. "I know he has had loan moves, but it is about getting the right environment and the right manager," former Hibs midfielder Scott Allan said on Sportsound. "Now he has landed with Wouter Vrancken and I think he will be a manager who will enhance his career. "When they get him isolated, he puts defenders under pressure. "I wouldn't be surprised if he is named in the next Scotland squad because he is the standout at present." 'There is room for freshness' While McPake might be the standout, he has a more than decent support act. Fellow forwards Miller and Wilson are in the mix for involvement in the upcoming Nations League games t