Normally the main striker for the team sitting third in the English Premier League would be a certainty for the Scotland squad, but it's a little more complicated when it comes to McBurnie. Capped 16 times by Scotland, the 30-year-old hasn't featured for the national team since 2021 despite rebuilding his career at Las Palmas and then Hull City, where he scored 18 goals to help fire them to promotion. 

Those numbers let to a clamour for McBurnie's selection for the World Cup, but he blotted his copybook with Clarke when divulging a private chat with him earlier in the year on why he wasn't being selected. Clarke took umbrage with the comments, saying: "I thought that was a private conversation, to be honest. It shouldn't have gone to the media."

A new manager may pay off for McBurnie, who said it has been "tough" watching from the sidelines. He has yet to hit the net this term, but has played every EPL minute. A strong target man and a physical presence, Pocognoli may see him as a viable option in his front line.placeholder image
Normally the main striker for the team sitting third in the English Premier League would be a certainty for the Scotland squad, but it's a little more complicated when it comes to McBurnie. Capped 16 times by Scotland, the 30-year-old hasn't featured for the national team since 2021 despite rebuilding his career at Las Palmas and then Hull City, where he scored 18 goals to help fire them to promotion. Those numbers let to a clamour for McBurnie's selection for the World Cup, but he blotted his copybook with Clarke when divulging a private chat with him earlier in the year on why he wasn't being selected. Clarke took umbrage with the comments, saying: "I thought that was a private conversation, to be honest. It shouldn't have gone to the media." A new manager may pay off for McBurnie, who said it has been "tough" watching from the sidelines. He has yet to hit the net this term, but has played every EPL minute. A strong target man and a physical presence, Pocognoli may see him as a viable option in his front line. | Getty Images

The 13 Scotland squad hopefuls aiming for Pocognoli call - including ex-Celtic man and forgotten defender

Belgian may shake up Scotland status quo - and here are players who could come in

A week on Tuesday, new Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli will name his first squad for the Nations League B fixtures against Slovenia home and away, Switzerland at home and North Macedonia away.

There will be much intrigue as to what direction Pocognoli turns to after seven successful years of Steve Clarke being at the helm of the national team.

Will the Belgian stick largely with the group of players that took Scotland to the World Cup? Or will there be sweeping changes to how the squad looks?

We take a look at 13 either uncapped or previously out-of-the-picture Scots who will hope to have caught Pocognoli's eye:

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