JOSH A MATCH FOR JAMBOS

JOSH MCPAKE went from Steven Gerrard's chosen one in the Rangers academy to half a year in football exile.

- BY FRASER MACKIE

Now his rollercoaster career is soaring again with the winger set to sign for Hearts.

Derek McInnes intends to snap up the St Johnstone standout on a pre-contract.

And the manager who ended McPake's wilderness months back in February 2024 is thrilled for him.

Darren Young took McPake in at Stirling Albion, then languishing at the wrong end of League One. McPake had been a popular Gers loan pick, gaining plenty of experience with Harrogate, Tranmere and Queen's Park among others.

All this after a European debut at Ibrox for Gerrard at 17.

Yet, as a free agent after his Gers contract was mutually terminated in September 2023, multiple possible moves failed to materialise.

Young has revealed he'd been advised McPake might have attitude issues to address. But those whispers proved baseless at the Binos.

The current Clyde manager said: “You could see Josh was a wee bit down when he came in.

“Deals fell through with teams, from what I'm led to believe. He was in a bit of limbo.