Scotland Men's Football Team

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Stozice Arena, Ljubljana

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The time for talk is over for Sebastien Pocognoli. It's about walking the walk now.

Well, not so much him, but his team, as Scotland take to the field for their Nations League opener against Slovenia on Saturday, guided by the Belgian for the first time.

He admits an excitement and curiosity - as well as the "positive nervousness" he explained during the week - as this new era begins after seven years of Scotland's most successful manager, Steve Clarke.

"We had a good camp, we reached all the aspects that we wanted to reach on the pitch but also off the pitch," the head coach said at the Stozice Arena.

"Regarding the first game for Scotland, I'm excited because we want to see what we worked on this week. I'm very curious to see if we can produce this."

With that, though, Pocognoli says comes a "mental aspect" as the players listen and adapt to his instructions on the touchline.

"I hope we are well balanced, well focused and well concentrated in the good moment, but also in the challenging moments," he added.

"The mental aspect to have a first game with a new gaffer, with new ideas, it's a consideration, the mental aspect.

"We try to plan the games on the physical aspect, the tactical aspect and on the performance aspect. These will be the last details."

Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Scotland Sportscene presenter

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Sebastien Pocognoli has been talking to the media before his debut as Scotland head coach in Saturday's Nations League opener away to Slovenia.

Here's the key points from the Belgian:

• "We had a good camp. Exciting because we want to see what we worked on on the pitch."

• "First impression was good. We need to know each other in this camp. Mixture of focus and hard work."

• Has picked his team for tomorrow.

• Will depend on the performance how much of the new squad will play over the four Nations League games.

• Rangers winger Findlay Curtis and Hearts striker James Wilson could come back to the senior squad for the other games after going to under-21s.

• What does he most want to see? "To have a good attitude, fighting spirit, desire to apply the work done in the camp."

• No new injury updates.

Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland

There is a freshness about Scotland as the Nations League campaign approaches.

Sebastien Pocognoli is the new head coach and there is a cohort of uncapped players in his first squad, plus a few who have very few caps.

So, what would the least inexperienced Scotland XI selected from that squad look like?

Bradford City's Jon McCracken, who left Dundee this summer, would be in goal.

In defence, Celtic's Colby Donovan, Brondby's Luis Binks, Swansea's Stephen Welsh and Stoke's Luke Graham could make up a whole new back four, or a back three with Donovan at wing-back on his natural right side.

Hearts wide man Josh McPake and Blackburn midfielder Kristi Montgomery are the debutant midfield options for Pocognoli, while Udinese's Lennon Miller is the least internationally experienced midfielder of those in the squad previously capped.

Up front, Hearts' James Wilson and Sassuolo's Kieron Bowie each have two caps, but no starts, while Sevilla's Robbie Ure is in line for a first Scotland appearance.

Such a starting XI would omit stalwarts such as Angus Gunn, Scott McKenna, and Billy Gilmour as well as captain Andy Robertson and John McGinn, who are nearing a century of caps each.

New head coach Sebastien Pocognoli says "the bar is very high" because of Scotland's "heritage". (Record - subscription required, external)

Celtic "meant everything" to Andy Robertson but being released by the club was the best thing that could have happened to him, believes the Scotland captain. (Scotsman - subscription required, external)

Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Luis Binks is among eight uncapped players included in the Scotland squad as head coach Sebastien Pocognoli prepares to take on Nations League opponents Slovenia and Switzerland in the coming week.

While it's a new environment for the Brondby defender, there are some familiar faces within the camp, including Brentford full-back Aaron Hickey.

"I know Aaron Hickey really well, me and him played together in Bologna," he explained.

"So me and him get along really well. When we were in Bologna we were the only two British boys there, so we naturally bonded there and to come here and see him again is good."

The centre-back is captain at his Danish club where he has made 35 appearances across two seasons.

While he also played with Como in Italy, there have been spells in England and Canada.

"I've made it clear for a while now that I wanted to play for Scotland", said the Kent-born player.

"I had to go through the whole process of changing nationality and it was a straight yes from me because it's what I wanted. To get the call last week to say he is calling me up was a surreal moment for me."

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Luke Graham says getting his first call-up to the Scotland squad was "pretty surreal".

The 22-year-old defender has impressed since making the summer switch to Stoke City, playing eight games so far in the Championship.

Sebastien Pocognoli included the former Dundee defender in his first Scotland squad - a pleasant surprise for the Graham family.

"My mum and dad were down because I had a game that weekend, so for him to call me the day after with them there it was pretty special - and they were fairly chuffed as well," said Graham.

"Obviously, it's a new manager, so everyone's raring to go and trying to impress but I just need to show myself up in the best way I can and hopefully try and get some minutes."

Graham has won eight caps for Scotland at under-21 level and he's hoping that experience can push him forward with the first team.

"It does help coming in fully for the first time but obviously I knew a couple of boys before that, anyway, with under-21s and stuff like that, so that helps to kind of bed it in as well," added the defender.

"Just to meet up with the boys today and then get that first session, obviously with the new manager and stuff, was pretty vital, so it was really good."

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Christophe Berra has cautioned the new Scotland regime "might not always be plain sailing" but he is nonetheless optimistic for Sebastien Pocognoli's reign.

The former Scotland defender says "it's exciting" as his country prepare to take on Slovenia and Switzerland over the next week.

"Steve Clarke had a great tenure and did incredible things but all good things come to an end," said Berra.

"There's new management, a new coaching structure in place, so it's a change for the Scottish FA and it's an exciting time ahead. There are going to be bumps in the road, it might not always be plain sailing, but I think it's exciting."

Both Luke Graham and Stephen Welsh, who are included in Pocognoli's first squad, made the move down south this summer to Stoke City and Swansea City, respectively.

Graham, 22, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last season under Steven Pressley at Dundee in the Scottish Premiership, where he made 35 appearances and scored two goals.

"The Championship is a really good level", former Wolves and Ipswich defender Berra said of the English second tier.

"You're playing against more teams, a different calibre of players, different types of players, it's different challenges and they're only going to benefit from that.

"A lot of players go down there and struggle and come straight back up – and I know it's still early days, they've only been down there for three or four months – but they're playing every week.

"They're both at a good age, so hopefully they can forge a good career for themselves down there and progress and move up the leagues as well."

Dundee manager Steven Pressley "couldn't be happier" to see his former players Luke Graham and Jon McCracken in the Scotland squad. (Record - subscription required, external)

Scotland-capped defender David Bates, 29, has been an ever present since joining Turkish side Amed this summer, helping them go top of the Super Lig mere months after promotion. (Sun, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Slovenia have suffered a triple injury blow as they prepare to start their Nations League campaign at home to Scotland on Saturday, the biggest being the absence of Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko.

The 23-year-old, who has scored 16 times in 45 appearances for his country, is joined on the sidelines by Jagiellonia Bialystok striker Niko Prelc and Viborg centre-half Zan Zaletel.

Slovenia had already lost Legia Warsaw's experienced Petar Stojanovic, who is on loan to Maribor, through injury.

Fellow Maribor right-back Zan Celar and Omonia left-back Jure Balkovec have been called up as replacements.

Slovan Bratislava forward Andraz Sporar told the Slovenian FA website: "It is impossible to replace a player of Benjamin's calibre, but football is a team sport and Slovenia has never relied on just one player.

"[Igor] Vekic provided a great example of this, performing excellently in goal when [Jan] Oblak was injured.

"Slovenia's greatest strength has always been the team. We will simply have to manage without him, though of course he would have been incredibly useful.

"This will be a major setback for us. We know what he brings to our attack and the national team. We will try to adapt as best we can. We will certainly miss him, especially with four matches coming up."

Sesko will undergo further testing to establish whether he has worsened his persistent shin injury, having missed United's draw with Fulham on Sunday.

The striker felt pain after their previous match against Brighton & Hove Albion, leading to fears the injury is similar to the problem he suffered last season.

Having been signed from RB Leipzig last summer, Sesko managed just 19 starts but still managed 12 goals last season and has followed that with two in six appearances this term so far.