Stewart's remarkable rise from Scottish juniors to World Cup

Ross Stewart's 33 appearances for Southampton this term is his most in a season since 2021-22 [Getty Images] As blood spurted from his shattered nose and taunts rained down from the ramshackle terraces, Ross Stewart felt his love of football reignited. Having been discarded by professional clubs, the striker's confidence was not the only thing that took a battering as he turned to the junior game to rescue his fledgling career. It proved the making of Stewart, who was then a raw and gangly 18-year-old and now, a decade later, is a prolific forward whose goals for Championship side Southampton have thrust him into the Scotland World Cup squad.

It has been an unconventional route to prominence for the Ayrshireman, who turned out for local junior clubs Ardeer Thistle and Kilwinning Rangers after several unsuccessful years in the pro-youth system with St Mirren, Celtic and latterly Partick Thistle. "It has served me well," Stewart told BBC Scotland back in 2022. "When I went and played juniors, being in an adult environment, I really took to it and fell back in love with football, the camaraderie and the banter.

"You're not treated like a youth player, you're treated like an adult. I was playing well and scoring goals and just worked my way up the junior leagues, then got my chance to go back to the senior set-up. " Southampton expelled from play-offs for spying No theatre or Scotland curveballs from loyal Clarke 'Big game scorer' Stewart and Curtis make Scotland World Cup squad Podcast: Reaction to Scotland World Cup squad Wonky noses and dad paying transfer fee The 'juniors' is something of a misnomer.

It is semi-professional football - with its own governing body separate from the Scottish FA - where players can range from promising teens to former internationals in their 40s. The fiercely competitive and unforgiving environment is no place for shrinking violets, as Stewart can attest. He still has the scars to prove it.