Pocognoli to lean on Scotland's 'captain group of five'

What the report says

Sebastien Pocognoli says Scott McTominay will be an important figure in Scotland’s camp as he prepares for Friday’s Nations League match against North Macedonia at Hampden. The BBC Sport Football report says the Scotland head coach described the Napoli midfielder as one of the team’s key leaders and included him in a small leadership group of five players he plans to rely on to help carry out instructions on the pitch.

McTominay missed Pocognoli’s first four games in charge, during a spell in which Scotland drew one match and lost two before beating North Macedonia, with the return meeting against Slovenia ending in defeat. Pocognoli said McTominay arrived in good spirits after returning to action following a minor heart procedure. The midfielder has previously spoken about treatment for an irregular heartbeat before Scotland’s win over Haiti in June.

Pocognoli also pointed to Andy Robertson as another major leader in the squad, and said having experienced players has made his job easier since taking over. He linked that leadership to his success at Union Saint-Gilloise, where he helped guide the Belgian club to a long-awaited title.

Scotland sit third in Group B1 and need at least four points from their last two games to keep alive hopes of a promotion play-off place. Pocognoli said the remaining fixtures are also vital preparation for the next phase of qualification, with the timing of future camps depending on whether Scotland progress.