Kieron Bowie is determined to cement himself in Sebastien Pocognoli’s new-look Scotland side after enduring the pain of missing out on the World Cup.The 24-year-old forward marked his fifth cap in style in Skopje yesterday by claiming his first international goal with a stunning early strike which paved the way for a comfortable 2-0 win over North Macedonia in the Nations League.Bowie, who’s on loan at Sassuolo from Verona in Italy, has featured in each of the Belgian’s three matches to date – the last two as a starter – and senses a chance to establish himself as his country’s main striker at the outset of a new era.’Obviously the manager’s come in and put a lot of trust in me to start the last two games,’ said Bowie.’It’s a fresh start for me with a new coach and different ideas, and to be here in his first camp, it’s a chance to prove myself.’But he said to me, ‘you don’t need to prove yourself, just go and do what I know you can do,’ and I feel like I’m doing that.’ Striker Kieron Bowie has started Scotland’s last two matches under Sebastien Pocognoli Bowie scores his first Scotland goal in their 2-0 victory against North Macedonia in Skopje Bowie was first called up by Steve Clarke as a Hibs player in June 2025 before moving to Verona for £6million in January.With four goals arriving quickly for his new club, he made a compelling case to make the squad for the US only to miss out.Determined now to make up for lost time, he reflected: ‘Obviously I was disappointed. I received a message from the manager (Clarke) saying that I’m not in the squad.’I felt like I’d done as much as I could. I moved to Serie A, I scored goals for a struggling Verona team and that was as much as I could do so I was happy with where I was at and how I’d played.’But these things happen, you’ve just got to bounce back, and I feel like I’m doing that.’Bowie began his career at Raith Rovers in League One before joining Fulham then Northampton on loan.Since swapping Easter Road for Serie A, though, he feels his game has improved markedly.’I think people, obviously Scottish fans, have an idea of how I was when I was at Hibs, and that’s all they can remember,’ said Bowie.’But I feel like since I moved to Serie A, it’s a different challenge against more experienced players and at a higher level, so I feel like I’ve definitely kicked into another gear, and I feel like I’m showing that.’Bowie scored some big goals for Hibernian, Verona and Sassuolo but he felt his strike in Skopje, which ended Scotland’s run of four games without a goal, was his most important yet.’In terms of the meaning for me and for Scotland, and for the coach, it’s the first goal for him and our first win, so I think that tops the lot,’ he said.Meanwhile, Andy Robertson says he’s determined to savour the ‘incredible’ achievement of reaching 100 caps before he thinks about trying to overhaul Sir Kenny Dalglish at the top of his country’s appearance charts.More than 12 years after his debut against Poland in 2014, the 32-year-old became only the second Scot to bring up his century by starting in Skopje.Robertson had his name chanted throughout the match by the travelling supporters inside the National Arena Todor Proeski, and the defender’s emotions were clearly stirred by the magnitude of the latest accomplishment in his stellar career.’It feels unbelievable,’ the Tottenham left back said. ‘To hit the 100 mark is pretty special. It’s something that I feel as if I’ve been chasing forever.’But since it kind of became close, I then really wanted to just get it over the line and make it happen. A hundred caps for your country is incredible. Not many people get to achieve that and I know how lucky I am to be able to be one of the ones to do that.’ Andy Robertson takes the acclaim of supporters after making his 100th Scotland appearance If Robertson plays each of Scotland’s three remaining Nations League matches this calendar year, he will overtake fellow former Liverpool player Dalglish – currently on 102 – and become his country’s new record appearance-holder against Switzerland in St Gallen next month.While that is clearly another of his ambitions, the former Queen’s Park, Dundee United and Hull player was intent on focusing on what he has just achieved.’I think it’s just about this one first,’ he stressed. ‘Hopefully I can (catch Dalglish) because I want to keep playing and I want to be in a Scotland jersey for years to come, which obviously results in me hopefully taking over Kenny.’But I’m only the second male player to get to 100 caps and I think I have to enjoy that. I think us footballers are a bit guilty of not enjoying it and not realising sometimes what you’ve achieved, so I’ve made a conscious effort to try to do that.’I know what I’ve achieved for me and my family and it was a really special night for us.’I’ve had lots of messages, more than normal. A lot of ex-players, a lot of managers, a lot of family members and things like that, so it’s been pretty nice to be on the phone, and I’ll start getting back to them slowly but surely.’