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.
Thrilling Hearts earn Edinburgh derby win over 10-man Hibs Latest Hearts news, analysis and fan views Get Hearts news notifications in the BBC Sport app 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 BBC Sport Scotland. "Obviously, I got the assist in the first half, but I really, really wanted the goal." 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.
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