Barney Stewart's meteoric rise from signing for Falkirk at 20 to becoming the Scottish Championship's top scorer in just 15 months is capturing attention. The 21-year-old striker, who took three months to score his first senior goal, has since exploded into form. Seven goals and two assists since his January return from loan saw him net a hat-trick against Hibernian on January 24th, becoming the Premiership's top scorer in that spell. His recent performances, including eight goals in 12 games for Dunfermline, have earned him a call-up to the Scotland Under-21 squad for their European Championship qualifiers against Czech Republic and Portugal.

While a senior Scotland call-up seems distant with established forwards like Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams playing in Europe, the inclusion of Findlay Curtis hints at Clarke's willingness to surprise. Stewart himself remains focused on Falkirk's survival battle and Scottish Cup run, stating: 'It doesn't really make a difference where my performance gets me.' His journey from a late signing to a Premiership standout is a compelling story, though his path to the senior national team remains challenging.