"Yeah, I see him there (higher up the pitch). If you see the goal he scored for Napoli last week, it shows his ability to do this," Sebastien Pocognoli said after Scotland's 0-0 draw with Slovenia in Ljubljana on Saturday. The coach is already treating Billy Gilmour as more than a deep-lying passer, and he pointed to the Napoli midfielder's attacking moments as the reason.

Pocognoli's case for an advanced Gilmour

Pocognoli said Gilmour created several chances in the second half, with the best one going to Kieron Bowie through an incisive through ball. He also said, "He almost scored in Slovenia with a fantastic combination with Oli. He needs to be there higher up the pitch because he can also make assists from there as well."

That view lines up with what he said about the role split in midfield. "If he is lower in the pitch, he will be less dangerous. I think that Lewis (Ferguson) is more with a defensive mindset and Billy more offensive," Pocognoli said. He also added, "I just want Billy to enjoy his football with a smile. If he can do that, the rest will come."

The Brighton comparison and what comes next

The Brighton reference is part of why Pocognoli is speaking with confidence about Gilmour's ceiling. "I remember him well when he was in Brighton. I thought he was fantastic for them," he said, before adding that he already knew all about him from his time working with Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium.

Gilmour's own comments fit the same direction. He has said he liked playing higher up when he was younger, and that he is happy anywhere as long as he is on the pitch and enjoying it. Pocognoli also praised his one-touch play and risk-taking in the second half, saying that kind of execution shows he understands the game plan.

The tactical preference is still early rather than settled, and nobody should pretend one night in Ljubljana has answered every question. But Pocognoli has been direct about what he wants, and Scotland now face Switzerland at Hampden on Tuesday with the role debate already out in the open.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →