Headline: Scotland Faces Crucial Matches as Pocognoli Prepares Second Squad Selection
Sebastien Pocognoli encounters a significant challenge early in his role as he readies to announce his second Scotland squad on Tuesday, following consecutive defeats in the Nations League at home.
The Belgian coach approaches the final two fixtures in League B1 with the knowledge that his team needs to secure at least four points—against bottom-ranked North Macedonia at home and top-placed Switzerland away—to maintain a shot at finishing in second place.
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Even with four points, Slovenia must stumble against both teams for Scotland to qualify for the promotion play-offs.
A loss in the opening match at Hampden could lead to the worst-case scenario of finishing at the bottom, resulting in relegation to League C.
In light of these stakes, which players are contending for a spot in Pocognoli’s squad?
Who Makes Way for McTominay?
Scott McTominay, notably absent from Pocognoli’s initial squad, is expected to be the first name on the list this time. The 29-year-old midfielder returned to the pitch after minor heart surgery and quickly made his mark by scoring two doubles for Napoli.
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In contrast, Billy Gilmour has not been as fortunate, remaining unused on the bench while his compatriot made his comeback, only appearing as a substitute in their victory over Monza and subsequent loss to Juventus.
Nonetheless, Gilmour has become a key choice under Pocognoli, alongside Lewis Ferguson, a consistent performer for Bologna, who has enjoyed three consecutive wins in Serie A. Ryan Christie has also solidified his position, starting in four of Bournemouth’s impressive six victories without conceding a goal.
Meanwhile, John McGinn’s participation for Aston Villa became limited, as he came off the bench in a match where Villa suffered their only defeat in nine games against Bournemouth.
Who, then, might face exclusion from the midfield lineup?
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Uncapped Kristi Montgomery, who made a surprising addition to the previous squad, is a regular starter with Championship side Blackburn Rovers. Conversely, Lennon Miller made a rare start but could not avert a hefty 5-2 loss against Roma, leaving Udinese winless in eight matches.
Kenny McLean’s situation is precarious; he has played just 45 minutes as a substitute for Norwich City since withdrawing from the last Scotland squad due to injury. The 34-year-old also missed Saturday’s win over Watford, raising doubts about his availability for Tuesday’s match against Derby County.
Who Will Replace McKenna?
A likely omission appears to be Scott McKenna, who has not participated in Dinamo Zagreb’s last two matches and has been ruled out for a fortnight by the Croatian champions.
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In McKenna’s absence, fellow centre-back Luis Binks returned from injury to play 64 minutes in Brondby’s victory over Aarhus. Meanwhile, Jack Hendry of Al-Ettifaq, Stephen Welsh of Swansea City, and Stoke City’s Luke Graham remain regular starters, with Graham helping his team remain unbeaten for three matches without conceding.
Kieran Tierney, who missed the last selection due to injury, has returned and is playing regularly for Celtic, though the team’s defense has shown vulnerabilities. On the other hand, left-back Andy Robertson has participated in Tottenham Hotspur’s three consecutive wins, despite the 32-year-old captain often not finishing matches.
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Josh Doig’s chances of impressing have suffered after a disappointing 6-2 loss for Sassuolo against Lazio during his return to the starting XI.
The right-back position poses a persistent concern for Pocognoli, with Celtic’s Colby Donovan as the only regular starter, while Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson primarily serve as substitutes for Brentford and Torino, respectively.
Will Falkirk Form Be Bain of Gunn?
Scott Bain’s standout performance in helping Falkirk achieve their first win over Scottish champions Celtic in 19 years secures his likely retention in the squad. This comes at a crucial time, especially since established number one Angus Gunn was sidelined during San Jose Earthquakes’ victory over Real Salt Lake on Saturday amid criticism of his recent form.
Adams Return as Oli Burns it Up?
With Rangers’ Lawrence Shankland still sidelined due to injury, Che Adams is expected to earn a recall, having scored two goals in four matches with Torino. Oli McBurnie has also made a case for inclusion after netting his first two goals of the season in Hull City’s last two Premier League games, despite the team enduring an eight-match winless streak.
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Kieron Bowie had previously shown promise as Scotland’s main striker during last month’s victory over North Macedonia but hasn’t scored in his following five matches and found himself on the bench during Sassuolo’s recent heavy defeat. Robbie Ure has netted his first two goals for Sevilla since the last international break, although he returned to the bench for Sunday’s loss against Getafe, while James Wilson has gone scoreless for eight games with Heart of Midlothian.
Should Pocognoli’s tactical setup allow for wingers, despite being unused on the bench over the weekend, Ben Gannon-Doak began for Bournemouth in impressive wins over Villa and AC Milan. Josh McPake has continued to shine with Hearts, while Findlay Curtis has made impactful appearances for Rangers.
With numerous decisions to be made, finalizing the starting lineup is probably more challenging than selecting a squad that nearly chooses itself.
