SNS GroupRangers left-back James Penrice could never have imagined himself being considered for Scotland duty just a few years ago.
The 27-year-old, on-loan at Ibrox from AEK Athens, has been given his first call-up by Sebastien Pocognoli for this month’s Nations League double-header against North Macedonia and Switzerland.
Penrice remained largely under the radar as he spent his early twenties with Partick Thistle and then Livingston.
But a move to Hearts in the summer of 2024 helped ignite his career and he earned a lucrative move to Greece off the back of a standout campaign at Tynecastle before returning to Scotland in August, swiftly becoming a key member of Derek McInnes’ Gers team.
“I’ve waited a wee while but I knew coming back to Scotland, coming to Rangers, it would help my cause,” Penrice said in an interview with Rangers TV shortly after hearing of his maiden call-up.
“It’s credit to the boys in there as well. They’ve helped me incredibly and I’m just buzzing.
“It’s a weird feeling because I didn’t ever think going through the early part of the career, I would ever be called up. But it’s happened now, so I’m just delighted.
“It’s an incredibly proud moment for me and my family.”
Asked when he heard about his call-up, Penrice, speaking as he made his way on to Rangers’ training pitch on Tuesday, said: “Five minutes before I came out.
“Kev (a Rangers staff member) zoomed round in the cart and came right up to me and just went-and I went, ‘oh my God, unreal!’.”
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