Stewart caps epic rise from the juniors to national duty

THE distance between Buffs Park and Hampden Park measures just 24 miles. For Ross Stewart, however, the journey he has made from junior football with Kilwinning Rangers to full Scotland international in the space of just six years must make his formative years in Ayrshire seem like light years away.

Making his national team debut replacing Ryan Christie for the final three minutes plus stoppage time of Wednesday night’s 2-0 Nations League win over Armenia at Hampden capped the striker’s remarkable, rapid rise.

Stepping onto the Mount Florida turf wearing the coveted Number 9 jersey was a moment the 25-year-old and his family will never forget. It also completed a dream season after Stewart had played a starring role helping reawaken a sleeping giant as Sunderland won promotion back to the Championship. ‘It felt very surreal,’ smiled Stewart (right). ‘Obviously it was a really proud moment. I was delighted to get my debut. ‘To do it in a game of such importance and that we went on to win makes it even better. It was just a really proud night. ‘To get five or so minutes at the end, you do take it in a wee bit. ‘My parents were there so I’m sure we will talk a lot about it. It was a very proud moment for me, but for them as well. ‘I am glad that they could be there when I was able to get my first minutes. It’s been an incredible experience. I have thoroughly enjoyed it and it’s great to finally come on and play minutes because that is what you want to do as a player.’

After his days in the juniors with Ardeer Thistle then Kilwinning Rangers, Stewart made the step up to senior football with Albion Rovers in July 2016.

The part-time Coatbridge side were unable to pay the £1,500 transfer fee needed to snap up the striker but the club’s fans and Stewart’s dad Cameron came to the rescue by funding the move.

‘Albion Rovers only had so much of what Kilwinning were asking for,’ Stewart recalled previously. ‘To top it up to the asking price, my dad paid the rest of it himself. I think it was another £500.

‘He basically had to buy me out of my Kilwinning contract and pay the rest of the transfer fee.

‘But I’ve paid him back now! It’s probably the best £500 he’s ever spent. He keeps telling me that.’

After a season at Cliftonhill, Stewart moved to St Mirren but he failed to make the breakthrough in Paisley. But an impressive loan spell at Alloa saw him catch the eye of Ross County in 2018 before winning his big move to Sunderland in January of last year.

Stewart finished last season as the joint-top scorer in League One with 26 goals and hit the net in the 2-0 play-off final win over Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley.

Now that he has made his international breakthrough, he is desperate for more game time in the Nations League clashes against Ireland in Dublin tomorrow and against Armenia in Yerevan on Tuesday. He said: ‘It has certainly whetted the appetite. ‘It is going to be a tough game away from home (against Ireland). They have lost their first two games so they will be wanting a reaction. ‘But we know what we have got in that dressing room and it is certainly a game that we will be going over to try and win. Hopefully, we can do that.’ Stewart was pleased with the team’s reaction to the heartbreak of their World Cup dream being ended by Ukraine last week. Steve Clarke’s side put in a strong performance against an admittedly limited Armenia with maiden Scotland goals from Anthony Ralston and Scott McKenna. ‘Obviously last week was very disappointing and it was all about showing character,’ he told the Scottish FA. ‘The boys did that really well. It was a very comfortable victory and a professional victory. ‘The only thing is that we were probably unlucky not to get a couple of more goals. ‘The fans came out and supported us in their numbers again and the boys are very thankful for that. ‘I have no doubt we will see them in Ireland and probably over in Armenia as well. ‘They play a big part as well and it was great to send them home with a victory.’

It felt very surreal and it was a proud moment to get my debut