Bowie seizing Scotland shot after World Cup disappointment

Bowie may have been cursing his luck again on Tuesday when his first international start was reduced to a mere 13 minutes following Jack Hendry's red card in the Hampden loss to Switzerland.

The landscape now looks very different.

The former Raith Rovers and Hibernian forward was one of the main Scotland heroes in Skopje after sending a deliciously whipped finish into the net in the 2-0 win over North Macedonia.

Playing in a new 3-4-1-2, Bowie started the game up top with Oli McBurnie in an ultra-attacking line up set out by Sebastien Pocognoli.

Throughout the game, his stats stacked up. The most shots with seven, the most on target with four, most shots in the box with five and the most touches in the opposition box with 11.

"You play all your life to represent a country and to score a goal is just an unbelievable feeling," said the 24-year-old Fifer.

"This manager's come in and he's put a lot of trust in me.

"I think the style that he wants to play definitely plays into my strengths. I think you've seen today a lot of times running them in behind and just showing strength against occupying defenders is one of the main things.

"It's a process but I think everyone's enjoying that process and it's a bit of a change."

The word "process" has been used so many times by the Scotland head coach and his players in recent days it's probably the new team motto.

But there is truth in it.

Pocognoli is trying to implement a radically different system to his predecessor. Not only that, it's a different mindset. All while trying to embed a clutch of new players.

It's early days for the Belgian, his group, and, of course, Bowie. But the man on loan at Sassuolo believes things are clicking, and it's an opportunity for him to make his mark.

"It's a lot longer international break," he explained. "We spend a lot more time together so it's good for him to get his message across and his ideas. Also, we play more games so we have to train a little bit less of course.

"I think for me it's a fresh start with a new coach and different ideas.

"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 just doing that."

Bowie, who made his Rovers debut at 16, added: "I think people, obviously Scottish fans, have the same idea of how I was when I was at Hibs and that's all they can remember.

"But I feel like since I moved to Serie A, it's a different league, different challenge and I'm getting more experience at a higher level.

"So, yeah, I feel like I've definitely kicked into another gear and I feel like I'm showing that."