Jordan Holsgrove's Scotland Ambitions Amid Hampden Showdowns
Jordan Holsgrove is still chasing the saltire. At 27, and now pulling the strings in midfield for Estoril in Portugal, he has not given up on the idea of a Scotland cap – far from it. There has been recent contact between the playmaker and the national set-up, a reminder that his name is very much on the radar as Steve Clarke and his staff scan for depth and creativity ahead of the next international cycles.
Holsgrove’s journey has taken him away from the Scottish game, but not away from the conversation. A technically polished midfielder operating in a demanding European league, he offers a different profile to many of his rivals. The dialogue with the national camp underlines that his ambition is matched by at least a degree of interest from those who matter most. The dream is intact.
Reedijk and Reus: friends, then rivals at Hampden
Closer to home, Hampden will stage a reunion wrapped inside a grudge match. Hibernian manager Marink Reedijk is preparing to face Hearts in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final, and with it a meeting with a familiar face: Beau Reus, his former goalkeeper at Beveren.
Reedijk spoke of a strong bond with the Hearts No.1, a relationship forged in Belgium and carried into their respective moves to Edinburgh. That connection will be parked the moment the whistle goes. The Hibs boss has already made it clear he will “love him a bit less” at Hampden, a neat line that captures the edge of a capital derby with a cup final at stake.
For Reus, it is a chance to frustrate an old mentor. For Reedijk, it is an opportunity to outwit a player he knows well, in a fixture that rarely needs extra spice.
Campbell easing into life at St Johnstone
In Perth, Josh Campbell is only just getting started. The midfielder, a recent arrival at St Johnstone, has been working his way back to full sharpness after a spell of illness. His impact in midweek suggested that process is gathering pace.
Coming off the bench against Motherwell, Campbell found his first goal for the club in Wednesday’s draw, a timely contribution for both player and team. He is still playing catch-up physically, but that finish offers a clear sign that his influence will grow as his fitness returns. St Johnstone need goals and drive from midfield; Campbell looks ready to supply both once he hits top speed.
Falkirk set sights higher
Down the divisions, Falkirk are refusing to settle. Ben Krauhaus, who scored in the club’s impressive win away to Aberdeen, has nailed the colours to the mast: another top-six finish “has to be the goal” for John McGlynn’s side.
Three wins on the spin have injected belief and momentum. Krauhaus’ contribution at Pittodrie underlined the confidence flowing through a team that has grown used to winning and now expects to mix it with stronger opposition. The bar has been raised internally. Mid-table consolidation will not do.
Aberdeen told to fight for Hampden life
For Aberdeen, that defeat to Falkirk was another bruise on a fragile season. Confidence is low, performances have stuttered, and now comes Rangers in a Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden that could either ignite or expose them.
Club legend Joe Harper has laid down the challenge. He insists the Dons must “fight with all they’ve got” on Saturday, a call to arms aimed at a squad that has yet to convince over any sustained spell. The stage, though, is set for redemption.
Harper has also backed Nicky Devlin to handle the glare if the 33-year-old is asked to start at Hampden. Describing the defender as an “experienced campaigner”, he believes Devlin’s nous and resilience can steady Aberdeen in a high-pressure environment. If selection and mentality align, the semi-final offers a route to a final and a badly needed injection of belief.
What might have been at Blackburn
Away from the cup noise, a near-miss in the transfer market has emerged in England. Tony Mowbray has revealed that Blackburn Rovers looked “pretty hard” at Elijah Just before the New Zealand midfielder left Motherwell for Swansea City in the summer.
Blackburn’s interest never turned into a deal, and Swansea moved decisively to secure the 24-year-old. For Mowbray, it is one that got away. For Just, it is another step in a career on the rise, his development now tied to the Championship club who beat Rovers to his signature.
From Holsgrove’s distant push for a Scotland call to the crackling tension of Hampden, the coming weeks will show who turns potential into something more tangible – and who is left wondering what might have been.
