Scotland Men's Football Team

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Planet Group Arena, Belgium

Image source, SNS

You never know who's watching...

That's very much Josh Mulligan's approach as the midfielder hopes to impress in Hibernian's Conference League play-off against Gent.

The 23-year-old has been subject to interest from Italy and England, but the Scot had eyes closer to home in mind, in the form of new Scotland head coach, Sebastien Pocognoli.

While David Gray's Hibs hope to smash through the target they set on day one of pre-season - creating history by advancing to European league-phase football - the former Dundee player, who was called up to Steve Clarke's squad but has yet to make an appearance, is planning to catch Pocognoli's attention.

When it was highlighted putting out a side from the national team's boss' home country couldn't do any arm, Mulligan replied with a smile: "I know. He might be watching the game, you just never know who's watching.

"I don't know the new manager's thinking. I think everyone will be really looking to do well and try and get in that squad

"It's just what you do on the pitch. You'll get your rewards for what you do on the pitch."

What we do know, though, is Mulligan is not getting caught up in transfer speculation.

"I don't get too far ahead of myself," he added. "I always try and stick to what's going on on the pitch, I just don't want to get in the way of anything, really."

Scotland forward George Hirst, 27, is set to join Stoke City from Ipswich Town in a £10m deal. (Sun, external)

Former Scotland forward Ross McCormack, 40, has joined Giffnock North AAC. (Sun, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Ghent, Belgium

Image source, SNS

In the week Scotland appointed a Belgian head coach, Sebastien Pocognoli, it was of great use that Hibernian headed to Ghent in the Conference League.

It meant a few inquisitive Scottish journalists were allowed to throw some questions of the national team's new boss to one of his former contemporaries, Gent coach Rik De Mil.

The former goalkeeper was in charge of Charleroi when Pocognoli guided Union Saint-Gilloise to their first league title in 90 years.

"He's a very good coach, he did very well here in Union," De Mil said.

"He's a young coach and he's somebody who is really direct in his communication and close to his players.

"All the players like him and his communication - being honest and direct.

"He's developing his style, because in Union, it was his first real head coach role. There, it was a five-at-the-back and trying to be dominant, but at the same time, they could also drop really low, keep the clean sheet and be good on the counter-attack.

"But he developed that team into being a dominant team, playing higher up the pitch, so you saw that development with him here and then he learned new things in Monaco.

"As a young coach, you need to do different things to get that experience and I think he's at the level now to take this challenge in Scotland with the experience he has.

"So, I think you made a good choice... I think when you take a Belgian guy, it's always a good choice."

Image source, PA Media

Former Scotland forward James McFadden does not expect a "massively different" squad announced when Sebastien Pocognoli names his first selection as national head coach.

However, McFadden does believe three forwards that missed out on Steve Clarke's Scotland World Cup squad may come into consideration.

"I don't think it'll be massively different," McFadden told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I understand that maybe Steve Clark would have looked at a Robbie Ure anyway, but I think that certainly moving to Sevilla, the season he's had or was having in Sweden would suggest that he'd be there.

"[Keiron] Bowie comes into the reckoning as well because it's a position we need strength.

"Does he then look at Ollie McBurnie, who had a fantastic season last season?"

Image source, Getty Images

After Sebastien Pocognoli was unveiled as the new Scotland head coach at Hampden Park on Monday, Steven Thompson presents a special episode of the Scottish Football Podcast.

Thompson is joined by James McFadden and BBC Scotland's chief sports writer Tom English to discuss the appointment, first impressions and what might follow.

Listen and subscribe.

Sebastien Pocognoli outlines what he wants to see from his Scotland side after being appointed head coach.

We asked for your views after Sebastien Pocognoli was named the new head coach of Scotland.

Here's what some of you said:

Benjamin: It is going to be an interesting campaign coming up. Excited to see how it goes and fair play to the Scottish FA for being bold. Just hope it works out for us all, but this is Scotland and anything is possible!

Derek: I just hope that Pocognoli takes a fresh look at the players available and doesn't just pick the same old faces that have failed miserably during Steve Clarke's time as head coach. Time for new Scottish talent to get a chance.

Neil: Hopefully he helps the team progress and achieves Euro 2028 qualification. That has to be the benchmark post-Clarke. Solidifying our defensive system has to be a priority, ensuring the team doesn't put itself under early pressure by losing early goals like it did in the World Cup. He will have a rebuild job to do, but there's no reason to believe that Scotland cannot build on Clarke's legacy with a good crop of younger players.

Roshan: I'm genuinely intrigued by this one. The appointment isn't the predictable, conservative SFA choice like we've seen in the past. They've gone outside Scotland, gone young, and appointed somebody who potentially brings a genuinely different footballing philosophy. I'm excited.

Thomas: It's hard to make a judgement on Pocognoli because most Scots have never heard of him. A really left-field appointment. I do, though, hope he shakes things up and doesn't just stick with guys that have proven they can't take us up to the next level.

Gordon: I hope this guy can instil a new style into the team. Clarke's football was dreadful to watch and I know he got results but... Hopefully this new boss can create a new atmosphere in the squad, developing younger players and playing attacking football.

Image source, Getty Images

Sebastien Pocognoli's working-class roots and charismatic personality will quickly endear him to the Tartan Army, predicts Belgian football expert Scott Coyne.

The former Monaco and Union Saint-Gilloise head coach has been named just the second foreign boss of the Scotland men's national team, replacing Steve Clarke.

However, Scottish podcaster Coyne expects 'Poco' to "click quite quickly" with a passionate support with his "very intense" but "very approachable" character.

"He comes from a working-class background just outside Liege, to an Italian family who were immigrants to Belgium," Coyne said on BBC Radio Scotland.

"Just like there are a lot of Scots Italians, there are a lot of Belgian Italians. There are a lot of cultural commonalities there that I think will help him quickly.

"Regardless of results, I think he will click quite quickly with the fans."

Coyne added that Pocognoli endured a challenging period at Monaco, where he was sacked earlier this summer after just eight months in charge, and praised the Scottish FA for securing a deal for the "pragmatic, adaptable and flexible" 39-year-old while interest was bubbling away elsewhere.

"Timing is very important with all things in football and the SFA deserve a lot of credit here," he added. "They've moved very fast to get a very exciting young coach who has become available at short notice.

"A lot of people have been keeping an eye on Poco. He was part of some private conversations among the Belgian FA in recent weeks before they appointed Mark van Bommel.

"He's someone a lot of people have been keeping a close eye on. I think he's been surprised by this opportunity, but he will think he's got the tools to take Scotland to another level."

Image source, Getty Images

Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken has backed fellow Belgian Sebastien Pocognoli to succeed as Scotland manager.

The 39-year-old former Monaco and Union Saint-Gilloise head coach has been announced as Steve Clarke's successor on a two-year deal.

Vrancken, who took over at Scottish Premiership side Hearts, played with Pocognoli at Genk around 20 years ago and were also on the books of the same club as coaches in the 2022-23 season before facing off as adversaries in the Belgian top flight.

"I know him pretty well because I played with him two years as a player, he was a young player at that moment," former Sint-Truiden boss Vrancken said.

"And he was under-18 coach when I was in Genk as first-team coach, so I know him a bit. I know him just as a good guy.

"I know his style of play because we managed against each other when he was at Union, and he did really well there. And let's hope that he can work with the national team.

"His style of play can work with Scotland I think. His style of play is also pretty physical, direct, so I think it's a good match."

Scotland fans, what do you make of Pocognoli's appointment? Have your say via this link