Kris Boyd is convinced Oli McBurnie will kick off a new era for Scotland as Sebastien Pocognoli's number nine. But he has challenged the Hull City striker to prove himself by getting the goals to stay there.
McBurnie is back in the national squad after a five-year absence. He is favourite to get the nod up front for Pocognoli's first game in charge against Slovenia in the Nations League on Saturday.
The 30-year-old has been excellent for the Tigers in the Premier League so far this season, without finding the back of the net yet. McBurnie is also still waiting for his first Scotland goal.
Boyd backs McBurnie to start
Boyd, who won 18 caps for his country, reckons Scotland have not had a proven goalscorer in their ranks since his old Rangers team-mate Kenny Miller was up top. He is excited at the fresh batch of strikers Pocognoli has called up for these four Nations League fixtures and says McBurnie deserves to start.
But he has warned all of Scotland's front-men just how difficult it is to replicate club goals at international level.
Boyd said: "It's a big call (who starts v Slovenia). But McBurnie has been a stand-out for Hull now for over a year. So it was no surprise to see him called up. And I'd be astonished if McBurnie doesn't start the game as Scotland's number nine."
Warning on international step-up
He added: "He's playing really well and causing problems. The one up front suits him and, hopefully, the younger ones in squad can learn from him. This might just be a rejuvenated McBurnie that's come back into the squad. He might have learned from his mistakes in the past and could turn out to be a really good player for Scotland."
"To perform at the level he has for the last year or so, you have to be doing something right. He has to look at this as an opportunity to be the main man for Scotland. It's a bold call (from the manager) and maybe injuries to other strikers have forced his hand."
"But whatever happens, you just hope Scotland can go and find a number nine who is a regular goalscorer. We've seen Scott McTominay and John McGinn go and score goals for Scotland. But it's been a long period since we've had a number nine who will more or less guarantee you goals on that stage."
"You could argue that Kenny Miller was the last one who, when you went into games, you felt he had a chance of scoring. Lawrence Shankland is still probably our best goalscorer but he's injured. So it's time to give this younger batch of strikers an opportunity but it's a big step up. People think because you're scoring goals at club level, you can make the step up pretty easily. But it's not as easy as that."
Pocognoli era begins
Most Scotland fans probably felt it was right for a managerial change after last summer's World Cup. After failing to get out of the group stage in the USA, Steve Clarke stepped down and the SFA have gone in a different direction with the appointment of Belgian boss Pocognoli.
It is an exciting time for the Tartan Army ahead of the Nations League and Euro 2028 qualifiers. But Boyd has issued a note of caution and believes Scotland are about to appreciate just how good a job Clarke did while he was in charge.
He said: "A lot of people were disillusioned with Steve at the end. But I always say, be careful what you wish for. I hope the new manager and new players can come in and take Scotland back to major tournaments. But it isn't going to be easy."
"The younger talent have shown at club level they can do it and hopefully they can take the step up to international level. You automatically think the step up will be easy but it won't be. I've been there, I know it. The step up to international level is hard. You go from your own supporters backing you every week to having the hopes of a nation on you."
"We have been spoiled for six or seven years with Steve. A lot of people were mumping and moaning about him. But to go to three out of four major tournaments isn't too bad. Only in Scotland would we find a way to moan about that, considering we hadn't been to one since 1998."
Pocognoli has some big decisions to make before his first team selection in Ljubljana on Saturday.
Praise for young strikers
As much as he expects McBurnie to lead the line against Slovenia, Boyd is also full of admiration for up-and-coming strikers Robbie Ure and Kieron Bowie for excelling abroad.
Boyd said: "Bowie has gone to Serie A and continued the form he showed at Hibs, in terms of scoring goals and being a threat (for Verona and Sassuolo). Ure, for the half-season he had in Sweden and the goals he was scoring to earn his big move, just couldn't be ignored any longer."
"You have to admire the way Ure has gone about his career. He could quite easily have stayed at Rangers and been a bit-part player. But he decided to go elsewhere and has reaped the benefits of that. Bowie is exactly the same. He decided to move on from Hibs and seems to be doing really well in Italy."
