West Brom-linked Barney Stewart's remarkable 18-month rise | OneFootball

West Brom-linked Barney Stewart has enjoyed a remarkable 18-month rise in Scotland, accelerating from rookie to headline-maker.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, several clubs, including Albion, have been linked with the 22-year-old after a productive campaign.

Stewart made his professional debut for Falkirk in January last year in the Scottish Championship, featuring only sparingly during their promotion-winning 2025 season.

A close-season broken metatarsal stalled his progress. On recovery he joined local rivals Dunfermline Athletic on loan, a switch that irked both fanbases before he struck eight goals in 12 games for Neil Lennon’s side.

He returned to Falkirk buoyed by Scotland under-21 cameos against Gibraltar and Bulgaria in November. In January he hit his first professional hat-trick in a 4-1 win over Hibernian, then added a February brace in a 5-1 defeat of Kilmarnock.

Further goals followed against Aberdeen, St Mirren and Motherwell, and he was named the Scottish Football Writers’ Young Player of the Season. He finished with 10 goals and two assists in 21 Falkirk outings, 18 in all for Falkirk and Dunfermline last term.

March brought more under-21 caps against Czech Republic and Portugal, underlining an upward curve.

Born in London, the 6ft 2in striker played Gaelic football, tennis and rugby alongside football, excelling most in the latter during two years with Queens Park Rangers. He left at 16, moved to Scotland where his parents are from, and focused on his studies.

While taking Sport and Exercise Science at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh he plundered 85 goals across East of Scotland and BUCS Leagues. Falkirk secured him to a new deal in January, extending his stay until 2028 with an option year.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com