Scotland face North Macedonia at Hampden Park tonight knowing that promotion back to Nations League A will require a significant helping hand from elsewhere. Sebastien Pocognoli's side sit third in Group B1 with two games remaining, three points behind Slovenia, after taking one win, a draw and two losses from his four matches in charge.
The sole victory came in Skopje against the Macedonians, but Scotland need maximum points on Friday night while hoping group leaders Switzerland beat Slovenia, before the two sides meet again on Monday. With that in mind, the Belgian head coach may look to freshen up his selection and assess the resources at his disposal.
Changes in Goal and Defence
The goalkeeper position has become a problem area for Scotland in recent years, and with Angus Gunn underperforming at both club and international level, Pocognoli could turn to Falkirk's in-form shot-stopper Scott Bain for his fifth cap.
Ryan Porteous and David Bates have returned to the squad after lengthy absences, but Luke Graham might be handed his first Scotland start following strong displays for high-flying Stoke City. He could line up alongside Kieran Tierney at the heart of the back four, with Aaron Hickey and captain Andy Robertson, soon to become the nation's all-time cap holder, on the flanks.
Midfield Experiment and Striker Options
Charlie Christie voiced hope this week that his son Ryan can be deployed in a deeper midfield role, similar to the position he has thrived in at Bournemouth in recent seasons. While the middle of the pitch is arguably Scotland's strongest area, it could be an experiment worth trying against a limited North Macedonian side.
Pairing Christie at the base of the midfield with Lewis Ferguson would mean Billy Gilmour might drop out, but it would allow the returning Scott McTominay to operate in a more advanced area that has served him well at Napoli over the past two years.
With Ben Gannon-Doak and John McGinn likely to occupy the wide areas, the lone striker role remains up for grabs, and Pocognoli might give fit-again Che Adams a chance after his recent goalscoring form at Torino.
