Slovenia v Scotland LIVE: Team news and line-ups from Sebastien Pocognoli’s first game as Scotland boss

Other appointments may have attracted more attention across the increasingly star-studded realm of international managers. It is hardly Sebastien Pocognoli’s fault, though, that unlike Jurgen Klopp or Zinedine Zidane or Thomas Tuchel or Carlo Ancelotti he is not yet a Champions League winning coach, armed with a CV that contains titles and trophies at Europe’s biggest clubs.

At 39, the Belgian is at the start of his managerial career, rather than approaching the end, having overseen just 107 senior games in spells at two clubs, Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco.

But look around the countries embracing a fresh start following the summer’s World Cup and there is an argument that the challenge facing Pocognoli with Scotland is the most compelling of all.

That the Scottish Football Association has embraced the opportunity for a clean slate with such a bold and left-field choice, following seven years of playing safe under the risk-averse Steve Clarke, is notable in itself; Pocognoli has been charged with taking Scotland in a new direction, just at the moment when the options available to the Scotland manager have undergone a drastic change.

Read Jamie Braidwood’s full analysis of an absolutely fascinating hire:

How will Sebastien Pocognoli do things as Scotland boss? It’s going to be absolutely fascinating today.

He took the squad for a walk around Ljubljana earlier today before heading to the stadium

To be honest, we’re shooting in the dark a little bit in terms of knowing exactly how Sebastien Pocognoli will want his team to line up/how to play.

But, in terms of absences, Pocognoli is without Scott McTominay, Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland, while Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean also withdrew from the squad.

Hull City striker Oli McBurnie has been recalled to the Scotland squad and could make his first appearance since 2021, while Swansea defender Stephen Welsh, Celtic right-back Colby Donovan, Brondby defender Luis Binks, Stoke centre-back Luke Graham, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Sevilla striker Robbie Ure have all received their first call-ups.

McBurnie and Ure could feature in the attack, due to absences of Adams, Shankland and Steve Clarke favourite Lyndon Dykes, while Welsh and Binks could come straight into a new-look defence, potentially as part of a back-three.

Possible Scotland XI: Gunn; Welsh, Binks, McKenna; Hickey, Ferguson, Gilmour, Robertson; McGinn; Ure, McBurnie

Scotland face Slovenia at Stadion Stozice in Ljubljana this afternoon, with kick-off at 2pm BST.

The match will be shown live on BBC One, with coverage from 1:45pm.

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Slovenia v Scotland in the Nations League

It’s an exciting new era for Scotland as Sebastien Pocognoli takes charge. Stick with us for full live coverage