Pocognoli Faces Selection Calls as Scotland Host North Macedonia
Scotland coach Sebastien Pocognoli must decide how to deploy returning Scott McTominay and whether to keep faith with misfiring striker Oli McBurnie for Friday's Nations League home game against North Macedonia.
Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli is preparing his side for Friday's Nations League meeting with North Macedonia in Glasgow, looking to respond after his first camp ended in a 2-1 home defeat by Slovenia last month. Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney and Che Adams have all returned to the squad for the closing double-header, which concludes with a trip to Switzerland on Monday.
McTominay is expected to make his first appearance under Pocognoli, and the central question is where the Napoli midfielder fits. He has been operating slightly deeper for his club this season while still scoring five goals in 11 outings. Pocognoli has used 3-4-2-1 or 3-4-1-2 shapes, and McTominay could partner John McGinn behind a central striker given their scoring records at international level. Billy Gilmour and Lewis Ferguson started in central midfield in all of Pocognoli's previous games, leaving Ryan Christie's claims for that area among the decisions to weigh.
Width is expected to come from wing-backs. Andy Robertson is a certainty on the left as he closes on the national caps record held by Sir Kenny Dalglish. Ben Gannon-Doak started the last two matches on the right despite not being a natural fit there, and his attacking threat in the 2-0 win away to North Macedonia may keep him in the side for a game where Scotland are expected to dominate possession. Aaron Hickey appears the obvious alternative for the sterner test in Switzerland.
Up front, Oli McBurnie started the first four games of the Pocognoli era and drew praise for his work rate, but the Hull City striker is still without a goal in 20 caps, though he has scored twice in his past three Premier League outings. If Scotland use two strikers at home to opponents who have not scored in eight matches, his place looks assured; with a single forward, Pocognoli might consider Adams or Kieron Bowie, who struck early against North Macedonia in October but has lost his starting place at Sassuolo over the past three league games.
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