The national team head coach has taken a hands-on approach not only to improving the fortunes of the Scotland team in the here and now, but also with an eye on the future, stressing that he has a responsibility to also help nurture the next generation of Scottish talent.

To that end, he would like to see the Premiership’s bigger clubs especially blooding more academy players and allowing them to thrive in the way that Findlay Curtis has at times with Rangers, or Colby Donovan has recently at Celtic.

“The Scottish league misses Scottish players in the biggest teams,” Pocognoli said.

“The league is intense and competitive, but I am not looking at this, I am looking at who is performing at the big clubs. I believe that’s the closest level to international level. And for that you need to play Champions League, Europa League, Conference League in some stage of the competition. 

“That is what I’m looking at. I hope that players who are performing well, let's say in the bottom, can bounce to the next step to a top club inside the country. That will make the competition more competitive, maybe you will go through after the winter into the Champions League or Europa League. That gives the experience to the young Scottish players and in the end, we’d get the benefit. 

(Image: Sergio Lopez / Shutterstock)

“That’s what I’m looking at more in Scottish football rather than the clubs and the style of play of clubs, that kind of thing. 

“It’s not easy because if you look at the Scottish competition there’s not many young lads who are getting an opportunity to shine compared to Belgium, France, Germany. I try to get all the opportunities I have to support this and hopefully we can see the benefits in future.”

Both Curtis and Donovan have been involved with Pocognoli’s senior squad already, with the Belgian a firm believer that the earlier the top young talent is exposed to the Scotland set-up, the more the national team will reap the benefits down the line.

In laying out his long-term vision, he also signalled a further departure from the philosophy of his predecessor, Steve Clarke, who was known for his steadfast loyalty to a core group of players. Pocognoli, it seems, is set to be more flexible, and place greater weight on form, which he hopes will allow more young players to break through in the future.

“I follow all of the young lads, not only from the Premiership in Scotland but also the Championship and League One because some of them are on loan,” he said.

“My job is not only to win the next game, it’s also to prepare for what’s coming next season. In one year, a lot can change. If you just stick to one philosophy and one squad of 15 players that you are just loyal to for everything in any case, you can be surprised for the Euros qualification or the Euros as well. 

“I try to support all the decisions of the clubs in Scotland regarding the fact they play Scottish players and young ones especially. Colby Donovan is a good example, he played some good games for Celtic, and I tried to help to accelerate his progress, then he signed a new contract and play week after week. He is not selected this time, but I think we will get the benefit later on. 

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“For Findlay Curtis it’s the same, he’s not playing a lot at Rangers, but I believe in his quality. We need to support those types of players because we need them, but hopefully it can help his pathway at Rangers to get some minutes. 

“I hope some other players will be on the same pathway this season.”