James Penrice believes his decision to join Rangers has been vindicated after being handed a first-ever Scotland call-up. The Ibrox defender has been named in Sebastien Pocognoli's squad for this month's Nations League fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland.
The call-up is reward for a string of impressive displays for Derek McInnes' Premier Sport Cup finalists. Penrice, a former Partick Thistle, Livingston and Hearts player, reckons it was made possible after opting to return to Scotland on a season-long loan from AEK Athens.
Penrice's Reaction to the News
Speaking to Rangers TV after training, Penrice said: "Incredibly proud. I'm buzzing for my family as well. My phone will probably be going nuts.
"I've not spoken to anyone yet. I'll have a hundred missed calls from my mum. She'll think I haven't told her! I only found out five minutes before it came out [for training]. Kev [Bain, Rangers' head physio] zoomed round in the cart and came right up to me and just nodded.
"I went, 'Aw! My God, unreal'. I've waited a wee while for this but I knew coming back to Scotland, coming to Rangers would help my cause.
Credit to Team-Mates
"It's credit to the boys in there as well. They've helped me incredibly. I'm just buzzing.
"It's a weird feeling because I don't think if you went back to the start of my career that I'd have been called up. It's happened now and I'm just delighted. I better go call my mum first!"
The start of the interview was interrupted by Ibrox team-mate Nico Raskin, who congratulated Penrice and praised Pocognoli. Raskin said: "Well done James! Well deserved, Bro! I always knew Belgian managers have good eyes to see good players!"
