Twenty months ago, he was in the shop window but "no-one wanted him". This week, he's involved in his first Scotland camp following a heroic start to life at Hearts, where, to the tune of Abba's Dancing Queen, the supporters sing he is "having the time of his life". His call-up to Sebastien Poconogli's squad for the upcoming Nations League games caps an eventful few years for the 25-year-old winger.
From Rangers academy's next big thing, to dropping into Scottish League 1 with Stirling Albion, to being shelved at St Johnstone, it's been a colourful - and at times chaotic - career so far. But, "I wouldn't change my journey for anything," McPake insists. He now appears at home in Gorgie and many have hopes he will be just as comfortable when he gets the opportunity to represent his country.
His story is one of resilience and patience. BBC Sport Scotland charts the fall and rise of McPake as "he can pass, he can score, having the time of his life, Josh McPake, watch him play on a Saturday". Sesko among three injury absences for Slovenia against Scotland Scotland call for Montgomery as Tierney & McLean drop out How is Scotland squad shaping up for Pocognoli debut?
Pocognoli Facetime helps Miller over summer of discontent His story starts like many others, in the Ibrox academy from a young age, where he was awarded player of the year in 2019 by working up through the reserves to the fringes of the first team. A matter of months after collecting the gong, he was given his first - and only - run-out for Steven Gerrard's side. His appearance off the bench in Rangers' rout against Gibraltar's St Joseph's in Europa League qualifying was not a sign of things to come, as he was sent out on his first of six loan moves just one month later.
Dundee, Greenock Morton, Harrogate Town, Morecambe, Tranmere Rovers and Queen's Park all had a taste of McPake but nothing permanent was made. He swiftly became a bit of a football nomad. While on Tayside, he scored the winner for Scotland Under-19s against Germany, but still he was flung from pillar to post.
On 1 September 2023, he left Rangers and, though he trained with a number of clubs - where he endured some "knocks and setbacks" - he didn't find a home for another near-six months, until Stirling signed him on a short-term deal. A dunt down to earth, no doubt, but McPake didn't allow any ego to get in his way, as then-Binos boss Darren Young recalled. "He came into training and he was brilliant - he couldn't have done any more," former Aberdeen midfielder Young told BBC Scotland.
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