George Hirst shares thrill of Scotland World Cup call-up
Ipswich striker George Hirst reflects on the joy of being named in Scotland's squad for the upcoming World Cup.
George Hirst is still buzzing after receiving confirmation of his place in the Scotland squad for the upcoming World Cup. The news arrived while the striker was playing golf in Portugal, where he was so overcome with excitement that it distracted him from his game.
"I was ecstatic," the 27-year-old said. "I found out 45 minutes before the rest of the world did. It was a dream for me when you're a kid, to go to a World Cup and for the manager to give me that opportunity, I'll be forever grateful."
Hirst enjoyed a productive season with Ipswich, scoring 11 goals as the club secured promotion to the Premier League. To prepare for the summer tournament, he has been enduring hot yoga sessions to adjust to the climate, despite admitting he is not a fan of the heat.
He joins a forward line including Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, Lawrence Shankland, and Ross Stewart. Hirst remains humble regarding his role: "I'm going to be there and ready to be called upon whenever that is, whether that's one minute, whether that's 90 minutes. It's going to be a really healthy competition."