Sebastien Pocognoli is expected to make several changes to his Scotland side for Tuesday night's Nations League clash with Switzerland at Hampden, after his first game in charge produced a mixed display in Slovenia.
There were positives to take from the 1-1 draw in Ljubljana, particularly a second-half performance that only lacked a winning goal. But the Belgian boss will also know there is plenty still to work on, and that is one of the reasons why a number of alterations are anticipated for his home bow.
Defensive options under review
Pocognoli will not rip everything up and start again, and going forward he will not want to make a raft of changes in every game, especially when the Euro 2028 qualifiers start next year. But right now, while he is still finding his feet in the job, he will be keen to look at as many different players and potential systems as possible.
He looks certain to continue with a back three against the Swiss as it is his preferred set-up. However, in Ljubljana, Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna and Stephen Welsh did not look entirely comfortable in the first half. They improved, just like the whole team, after the break as they pushed higher up the pitch. But Pocognoli might want to look at other options, mainly Luke Graham or Luis Binks.
Midfield core and attacking tweaks
His midfield core should stay the same, with Lewis Ferguson and Billy Gilmour patrolling the centre and John McGinn playing as one of his number 10s. But around that, the new gaffer could make a few alterations. In Slovenia, he started with two strikers, as Oli McBurnie played just off Robbie Ure.
Switzerland, though, are a far better level of opposition, so it is possible that he adopts a slightly more cautious approach. Ryan Christie did not get off the bench at the weekend, so he must surely be pushing for a start. McBurnie and Ure did nothing wrong against the Slovenians, but Kieron Bowie, who missed two big chances, influenced the game when he came on, so he could get an opportunity from the start.
Wing-back decisions
Ben Gannon-Doak made a positive impact as a substitute, but where does he fit in? He could play as wing-back instead of Aaron Hickey, but that is unlikely against the World Cup quarter-finalists. Nathan Patterson, who is also desperate for a chance, would probably be his pick to replace the Brentford man, who rarely plays two games in four days.
That is the other thing to consider. With such a quick turnaround in a four-game Nations League series, Pocognoli might be forced to tinker.
Record Sport's predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Gunn; Welsh, Hendry, Graham; Patterson; Ferguson, Gilmour, Robertson; Christie, McGinn; Bowie.
