Key questions as Pocognoli prepares to name Scotland squad — SkimNews
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- Scotland must take at least four points against bottom-placed North Macedonia at Hampden and the table-topping Swiss away to have any chance of finishing second in League B1, while a Hampden loss leaves relegation to League C possible as Pocognoli weighs his second squad.
- Scott McTominay was the major miss from Pocognoli's first squad and immediately recorded two doubles for Napoli after returning from minor heart surgery.
- Billy Gilmour has become an automatic choice under Pocognoli; Lewis Ferguson remains a Bologna mainstay, while Ryan Christie started four of Bournemouth's six straight victories without conceding.
- Scott McKenna is a likely absentee after missing Dinamo Zagreb's past two games and being ruled out for the next two weeks, while Luke Graham, Jack Hendry and Stephen Welsh are all regular club starters.
- Colby Donovan is Celtic's regular starter at right-back, the position identified as Pocognoli's main worry, with Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson used mainly as substitutes for Brentford and Torino.
- Scott Bain helped Falkirk beat Celtic for the first time in 19 years and is likely to retain Scotland's goalkeeper place because the national team has little cover, despite Angus Gunn being left on the bench for San Jose Earthquakes.
- Oli McBurnie scored his first two goals of the season in Hull City's latest two Premier League games, while fit-again Che Adams is in line for a recall after two goals in four Torino matches and Kieron Bowie has gone five games without scoring.
Why it matters: Pocognoli faces a four-point requirement in two League B1 matches; a loss at Hampden leaves Scotland facing possible relegation to League C. Reaching the promotion play-offs also depends on Slovenia slipping up against both North Macedonia and the Swiss, while Scotland's limited goalkeeper cover and right-back uncertainty add weight to Bain's and Donovan's selection.
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