Sebastien Pocognoli’s first Scotland squad is set to bring a series of difficult decisions when the new head coach names his selection on Tuesday. The Belgian faces four matches in two weeks in the Nations League later this month, with injuries, retirements and a number of players struggling for regular club football all shaping the debate.
Pocognoli has inherited the group that Steve Clarke took to the World Cup in the USA, but the 39-year-old is expected to assess every position as he begins a new era for the national team.
Scotland’s goalkeeping problem remains unresolved
The identity of Scotland’s long-term No 1 remains one of the most pressing questions. Angus Gunn started all three group matches at the World Cup, despite having made only 45 minutes of club football last season before leaving Nottingham Forest.
The 30-year-old has since joined San Jose Earthquakes and is playing regularly in Major League Soccer, although he has conceded 21 goals in 10 games.
Craig Gordon was also part of the squad in the USA but has now retired, while Liam Kelly has yet to feature for Rangers this season. Falkirk’s Scott Bain may therefore come back into consideration after playing all five of his club’s Premiership matches this season.
Bain was omitted from Clarke’s final squad despite having played more minutes than Gunn, Gordon and Kelly combined, and last won a Scotland cap in March.
Liam McFarlane, who travelled to the World Cup as a training goalkeeper, is another possible option. The Hearts goalkeeper is on loan at Partick Thistle, where he has kept four clean sheets and conceded once in five Championship appearances.
Defensive changes under consideration
Captain Andy Robertson is expected to remain central to Scotland’s plans, but there could be changes elsewhere in the defence.
Grant Hanley has won 70 caps and has been a dependable presence for the national team, yet his position may come under scrutiny as Pocognoli seeks to improve Scotland’s ability to defend higher up the pitch. The 34-year-old missed Hibernian’s League Cup victory at Ross County with an injury.
John Souttar has not made the bench for Rangers this season after being told his long-term future lies away from Ibrox. That lack of involvement could count against him, while his Rangers team-mate Ross McCrorie may benefit from his ability to operate in defence or midfield.
Anthony Ralston is also at risk of missing out. Once used as back-up to Aaron Hickey, he has fallen down the pecking order at Celtic, where teenager Colby Donovan has featured in all eight domestic matches this season.
Donovan, a current Scotland Under-21 international, could eventually challenge for the senior side, although Hickey, Max Johnston and Nathan Patterson are among the other right-back options available to Pocognoli.
Josh Doig could return to the picture after impressing with Serie A club Sassuolo. James Penrice has also made an impact since joining Rangers on loan, while Stoke’s Luke Graham and Swansea City’s Stephen Welsh may be among the younger defenders considered.
Billy Gilmour poised for Scotland return
Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour should be available again after a knee injury ruled him out of the World Cup squad. He has completed 90 minutes in consecutive matches against Arsenal in the Champions League and Bologna in Serie A.
Scotland will, however, be without Scott McTominay after his heart surgery. That could create an opportunity for Lennon Miller, who was left out of the USA squad in favour of Tyler Fletcher but has started consecutive matches for Udinese despite not yet securing a regular place.
Hibernian’s Josh Mulligan, who has been involved with the national team without winning a cap, is another midfield possibility. Pocognoli watched the 23-year-old impress in the Edinburgh derby.
Striker options widen after Shankland injury
Lawrence Shankland will miss the Nations League matches following surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury, leaving Scotland’s attacking options under further examination.
Hearts may provide Pocognoli with one solution. James Wilson has impressed since returning to Tynecastle from a loan spell at Tottenham and scored Hearts’ opening goal against Hibernian in front of the new Scotland head coach.
Calvin Miller and Josh McPake, both summer arrivals at Hearts who have represented Scotland at youth level, have also made an impact and could enter the senior manager’s thinking.
Lyndon Dykes has scored three times in six league games for Millwall this season, but his record of one goal in his last nine Scotland appearances raises questions about his place in the new set-up.
Oli McBurnie could be in line for a recall after his long absence from international football. The Hull City striker has not played for Scotland since 2021, despite scoring 18 Championship goals as the club secured promotion, but he has featured for almost every minute of their four Premier League matches this season.
There are also less familiar possibilities. Robbie Ure earned a move to Sevilla after scoring 20 goals in 20 games for Swedish club Sirius, while Kieron Bowie has made a strong start in Italy and scored in Sassuolo’s victory over Juventus.
Pocognoli’s announcement will show how much of Clarke’s World Cup group survives the change in leadership — and whether the new head coach is prepared to turn to a younger generation as Scotland begin their Nations League campaign.
