Overview
- Pocognoli took formal charge and named a 28-man new-look squad on Friday, September 25, 2026, and will manage his first match away to Slovenia in the Nations League this weekend.
- The squad includes eight uncapped players and a notable contingent playing abroad, with six members based in Italy, reflecting a wider selection pool beyond the Scottish Premiership.
- Pocognoli is expected to adopt an aggressive, front-foot style built around a three-central-defender system similar to the 3-4-2-1 he used at Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco.
- Multiple senior regulars including Scott McTominay and Che Adams are unavailable through injury or absence, which has forced earlier integration of younger and less-tested players.
- The SFA’s appointment follows concern that under-21 eligible players made up only 4.1% of Premiership minutes last season and signals a push to pressure clubs to give more senior minutes to homegrown youth while the short Nations League block limits how much Pocognoli can experiment.