Pocognoli Faces Tough Choices Ahead of Scotland Squad Announcement

Sebastien Pocognoli is gearing up for a significant challenge as he readies to announce his second Scotland squad. After suffering two consecutive defeats in the Nations League, the pressure is mounting on the Belgian coach ahead of their next fixtures. Scotland desperately needs to secure at least four points from their final two matches — one at home against bottom-dwellers North Macedonia and another away against league leaders Switzerland. The Scots must also hope for Slovenia to stumble against both teams to keep their promotion hopes alive. A loss in their opener at Hampden could plunge Scotland into a nightmare scenario, potentially leaving them at the bottom of the group and facing relegation to League C. Who will make the cut for Pocognoli's much-needed rescue mission? One of the biggest absentees from his first squad was Scott McTominay, and it’s almost a certainty that the midfielder will be back on the list this time. The 29-year-old has made a quick return to form, netting two goals for Napoli shortly after recovering from minor heart surgery. In contrast, Billy Gilmour hasn’t had the same luck, remaining on the bench while McTominay made a triumphant return. Gilmour is still expected to be a key player under Pocognoli, alongside Lewis Ferguson, who has been performing well for Bologna, helping them to three straight Serie A wins. Ryan Christie is also in good shape, having started in Bournemouth's impressive run of six victories without conceding. Aston Villa’s John McGinn has seen limited action lately, coming off the bench rather than starting. Midfield is a competitive area, and while uncapped Kristi Montgomery continues to impress at Blackburn, other players like Kenny McLean are struggling for game time due to injury concerns. Scott McKenna’s absence is a blow after he missed the last two games for Dinamo Zagreb and is sidelined for another fortnight. Meanwhile, fellow defender Luis Binks returned to action, playing a solid role in Brondby’s recent victory. The defensive line remains a point of concern. Jack Hendry, Stephen Welsh, and Luke Graham are all regular starters for their clubs, and Graham has been instrumental in Stoke City’s recent unbeaten streak. Kieran Tierney is back in action with Celtic after injury, but the defense is looking shaky. Andy Robertson, the national captain, is still starting but often doesn’t see out the full 90 minutes. Josh Doig’s chances to impress were dampened after his team suffered a heavy loss in his recent return to the starting lineup. Right-back is another area where Pocognoli has to make tough calls. Colby Donovan has been a consistent performer for Celtic, while Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey have seen limited action as substitutes. Scott Bain’s standout performance for Falkirk in their historic win over Celtic has boosted his chances of being included, especially given the doubts surrounding established number one Angus Gunn, who has faced criticism and was benched in his last match. Che Adams, who is returning from injury, is expected to reclaim his spot after scoring twice for Torino. Oli McBurnie is also in the mix after finding the net in Hull City’s last two matches, although the team has struggled overall. Kieron Bowie made a mark with a goal against North Macedonia last time out but hasn’t scored since. Robbie Ure has added to his tally with two goals for Sevilla, but his recent benching raises questions about his form. Meanwhile, James Wilson is still searching for a breakthrough goal with Heart of Midlothian. Pocognoli might consider using wingers, with Ben Gannon-Doak making headlines at Bournemouth and Josh McPake shining for Hearts. The decisions ahead of the squad announcement are tough, as the starting lineup could be more challenging to finalize than the squad itself.