Kieron Bowie was not picked for Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad. He started his first international game, played 13 minutes, and then went back to Scotland, scored in Skopje, and led the stats sheet. The story of his Scotland journey moves from disappointment to hero.
The World Cup Disappointment
Clarke built his World Cup squad on loyalty. Players who had served him well got the call. Bowie played and scored for a Hellas Verona side heading for relegation from Serie A, but he was not chosen.
Bowie took the news in stride. He told reporters he received a message saying he was not in the squad, but these things happen, and it is about how you bounce back.
The team’s result in the USA suggested the problem was not a lack of talent. Scotland scored just one goal — a John McGinn strike — over the course of their campaign. That goal was the only one they managed.
“I received a message from him saying that I’m not in the squad but these things happen and it’s just about how you bounce back from it to be honest,” said Bowie.
Bowie’s Return to the International Scene
Bowie’s first international start came in a new setup, a 3-4-1-2 formation put out by Sebastien Pocognoli. He started the game up top with Oli McBurnie in an ultra-attacking line up set out by the Belgian coach, and his numbers told the story.
The stats were dominant. Bowie led the team with seven shots, four on target, five shots in the box, and 11 touches in the opposition box. The only thing he did not lead was the minutes played — that was cut short by Jack Hendry’s red card in the Hampden loss to Switzerland.
Bowie’s goal was the difference in the 2-0 win over North Macedonia. He sent a whipped finish into the net, and he said the feeling was one he will not forget.
“You play all your life to represent a country and to score a goal is just an unbelievable feeling,” said the 24-year-old Fifer.
Bowie’s Path Through Raith and Hibs
Bowie’s story is one of steady progress. He made his Rovers debut at 16, and his career has moved through Raith Rovers and Hibernian before his current spell at Sassuolo.
The move to Serie A brought a different kind of challenge. Bowie said Scottish fans have the same idea of how he was when he was at Hibs, and that is all they can remember. But he feels he has kicked into a different gear since leaving.
“I feel like since I moved to Serie A, it’s a different challenge against more experienced players and at a higher level,” he said. “So, yeah, I feel like I’ve definitely kicked into another gear and I feel like I’m showing that.”
The New Manager’s Approach
Pocognoli is trying to do things differently from his predecessor. The system is new, the mindset is new, and the group of players is new. Bowie is part of that group.
The coach’s message to him was simple. “You don’t need to prove yourself, just go and do what I know you can do,” Pocognoli told him.
Bowie has taken that to heart. He is just doing what he knows he can do.
The manager’s approach is about trust. Bowie started the game up top with McBurnie, and his stats showed why. The most shots, the most on target, the most in the box, the most touches in it were team-wide leading categories.
“It’s a lot longer international break,” Pocognoli explained. “We spend a lot more time together so it’s good for him to get his message across and his ideas. Also, we play more games so we have to train a little bit less of course.”
“It’s a process but I think everyone’s enjoying that process and it’s a bit of a change,” Bowie said.
What This Means for Bowie
Bowie went from not being picked for the World Cup squad to scoring in Scotland’s win over North Macedonia. That is a remarkable turn of events for a player who was overlooked for the biggest tournament.
The stats in Skopje showed his value. Seven shots, four on target, five in the box, 11 touches in it — Bowie led every attacking category on the night.
He spent time at home with his family and took a golf holiday to Portugal before the match. That was all he did.
Bowie has a chance to make a mark under Pocognoli. The manager has put trust in him, and the style of play suits his strengths. The process, as he put it, is about showing strength against occupying defenders.
The story of Bowie’s Scotland journey moves from disappointment to hero. He was not picked for the World Cup squad, but he scored in Skopje and led the stats sheet.
Source material: “Bowie seizing Scotland shot after World Cup disappointment,” the BBC.
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