Pocognoli weighs Gannon-Doak and McGinn roles before Scotland face North Macedonia

Scotland head coach Sébastien Pocognoli faces selection decisions before Saturday’s Nations League match against North Macedonia in Skopje on 3 October. His side have taken one point and scored no goals in his first two Group B1 games, and defender Jack Hendry is suspended after being sent off in Tuesday’s 3-0 home defeat by Switzerland. The result has sharpened questions about where Ben Gannon-Doak might start, how John McGinn fits into the attack and who replaces Hendry.

The Switzerland match offered a limited test of Pocognoli’s intended approach. Hendry was dismissed in the opening minutes after a video review changed an initial penalty and yellow-card decision to a free kick and red card. Ricardo Rodríguez scored from the resulting free kick in the 12th minute. Nico Elvedi added a second after 55 minutes and Zeki Amdouni made it 3-0 in the 82nd. Pocognoli told Sky Sports that the early dismissal meant the planned approach had to be set aside.

Where could Ben Gannon-Doak play for Scotland?

Gannon-Doak has appeared from the bench in both of Pocognoli’s matches but has yet to start, according to BBC Sport Scotland. Its preview says he made an impact as a substitute each time. BBC pundit Andy Halliday said he would be ‘shocked’ if the Bournemouth winger did not start against North Macedonia. That is an assessment of his case for selection, rather than an indication that Pocognoli has chosen his team.

The complication is the shape Pocognoli has used. The BBC describes his preferred formation as 3-4-1-2, without an obvious conventional winger’s place. It identifies wing-back as a possible position for Gannon-Doak, while questioning whether his defensive instincts match those of Aaron Hickey or Nathan Patterson. Starting him there would therefore be a tactical decision as well as a selection decision. Pocognoli has not publicly confirmed that he intends to use him in that role.

Does John McGinn keep his place?

McGinn is another focus of the selection debate. The Aston Villa captain and Scotland vice-captain has 91 international caps, the BBC reports. It noted his ability to win fouls against Switzerland but questioned whether he has recently produced his club form for Scotland. The Guardian’s match report also argued that Scotland needed more from him than drawing fouls. These are reporters’ assessments of his performance, not a reported decision to drop him.

The question reaches beyond one player. Scotland drew 0-0 with Slovenia in Pocognoli’s first match and then failed to score against Switzerland. BBC Sport Scotland says the team has now gone four matches without a goal. Its preview also says Scotland are 25 minutes away from passing a 447-minute scoreless run recorded in 1970-71. Those figures describe the position before Saturday’s game; they do not predict how Scotland will perform against North Macedonia.

How does Hendry’s suspension change the defence?

Hendry’s absence creates the clearest enforced decision. Welsh came on when Hendry was dismissed against Switzerland, having started the earlier draw in Slovenia. BBC Sport Scotland judged that Welsh performed well in both appearances and identified him as a possible starter on Saturday. It also noted that he can play on either side of the back three. His return to the lineup is plausible, but no replacement has been confirmed.

Pocognoli had already changed his defence between the first two matches. The Scottish FA says he brought Patterson and debutant Luis Binks into the starting side against Switzerland, while Welsh and Hickey dropped out; Bowie also replaced Robbie Ure. The early red card then forced another reshuffle. Those changes show the manager has used several combinations in two games, leaving the planned defensive lineup for North Macedonia open.

What other choices remain before Saturday?

The BBC preview also raises Angus Gunn’s position in goal. Gunn acknowledged that he would be disappointed on reviewing the goals conceded against Switzerland and said he would look at what he could improve. BBC Sport Scotland discusses a possible change, but reports no decision. The Scottish FA match record notes that Gunn made saves later in the second half, so the goals conceded are only part of the account of his night.

Bowie’s prospects are similarly difficult to judge from Tuesday’s match. It was his first Scotland start, but he was withdrawn shortly after Hendry’s dismissal so Welsh could enter. BBC Sport Scotland says Bowie and Oli McBurnie had shown promising signs together during a brief spell against Slovenia. Whether Pocognoli starts them together again, changes the attacking shape or gives Gannon-Doak a starting role remains unanswered ahead of the match.

Scotland play North Macedonia on Saturday before hosting Slovenia the following Tuesday, according to the Scottish FA. A first win under Pocognoli would end the two-game wait described in the BBC preview. For now, the confirmed change is Hendry’s suspension; the remaining decisions depend on a lineup that had not been announced in the cited reports.