Sebastien Pocognoli has assembled a squad for his inaugural Nations League fixtures that reflects both the challenges of managing international football and his commitment to injecting fresh talent into the Scotland setup. The Belgian head coach's selection has been shaped by injuries to key players and the emergence of uncapped prospects, creating a blend of experience and youth as the team prepares for competitive action.
The squad-building process has not been straightforward. Scott McTominay, the 29-year-old Napoli midfielder, was unavailable after undergoing what he described as minor heart surgery expected to sideline him for only a few weeks. Lawrence Shankland of Rangers and Che Adams of Torino were also absent through injury, with Shankland's hamstring injury expected to keep him out for up to four months. More recently, Norwich City midfielder Kenny McLean and Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney have been ruled out after picking up knocks during club fixtures.
Despite these setbacks, Pocognoli has named a 28-player squad including six new call-ups and seven uncapped players for the forthcoming Nations League matches. The new faces in the squad included Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake, Stephen Welsh and Robbie Ure, with 22-year-old Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery named as the sole replacement for McLean.
How are the goalkeepers performing?
The goalkeeping position, which proved problematic under predecessor Steve Clarke, has stabilised considerably. Angus Gunn, the first-choice option, is now a regular starter with San Jose Earthquakes following his summer transfer from Nottingham Forest. Scott Bain continues to perform well for Falkirk, while Jon McCracken has helped Bradford City to the top of League One after his move from Dundee. Rangers' Liam Kelly remains the only goalkeeper in the squad not currently playing regular football for his club, a situation that could concern Pocognoli as he prepares for competitive fixtures.
What is the forward line looking like?
The absence of Shankland and Adams created an opportunity for Pocognoli to introduce new attacking options. Oli McBurnie, recalled after five years away from international football, continues to start regularly for Hull City following their return to the Premier League. Robbie Ure was back in the starting lineup for his new club Sevilla as they lost 3-1 to La Liga leaders Barcelona on Saturday, while James Wilson has established himself in Heart of Midlothian's first team since returning from his loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur.
However, not all attacking players are enjoying consistent minutes. Striker Kieron Bowie and wingers Findlay Curtis and Ben Gannon-Doak were restricted to substitute appearances over the weekend for Sassuolo, Rangers and Bournemouth respectively. The limited playing time for 20-year-old Gannon-Doak is particularly concerning given his proven ability to provide pace and width to Scotland's attacking play.
How are the midfielders faring?
All seven of Pocognoli's original central midfield selections started their club matches over the weekend, though McLean's injury during Norwich's 4-3 home defeat to Bolton Wanderers has forced a reshuffle. His replacement, Montgomery, demonstrated his readiness by playing the full 90 minutes in Blackburn's 2-2 Championship draw against Portsmouth.
Billy Gilmour has been in impressive form for Napoli, scoring only his second senior goal with a fine strike in their 1-1 draw at Fiorentina and earning man-of-the-match honours. Lennon Miller started for the third time this season in Udinese's 1-0 home defeat by Cagliari, while Lewis Ferguson has returned to regular action as Bologna captain, including their 1-1 draw with Torino. Ryan Christie received a boost by being handed only his second start of the season for Bournemouth, though he was substituted after 75 minutes in a 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool.
John McGinn of Aston Villa provided an assist in Tottenham's 3-2 defeat, demonstrating the creative quality available to Pocognoli in midfield alongside Robertson's contribution from the same match.
What is the defensive situation?
The right-back position remains a concern for Scotland. Nathan Patterson made his second appearance as a substitute since his loan move from Everton, while Aaron Hickey had to settle for a bench role in Brentford's 3-0 win over Chelsea. This ongoing difficulty in establishing a settled right-back option could prove problematic as the Nations League campaign unfolds.
At left-back, the picture is mixed. Colby Donovan started again for Celtic, though the Scottish champions suffered a third consecutive defeat. Kieran Tierney, Andy Robertson and Josh Doig all started for their respective clubs but ended on the losing side, with Tierney's injury adding to Pocognoli's defensive concerns. Among the centre-back options, only Scott McKenna did not feature in his club's latest fixture, remaining an unused substitute as Dinamo Zagreb beat Lokomotiva.
What happens next?
Scotland's next competitive match is away to Slovenia on 26 September 2026, followed by Switzerland at Hampden on 29 September 2026. Pocognoli will be hoping that the creative contributions from experienced players like Robertson and McGinn can provide the spark needed to launch his tenure successfully, while the injection of youth and fresh talent offers the prospect of a squad capable of competing effectively in the Nations League.
