Scotland face defensive selection calls ahead of North Macedonia trip
After losing to Switzerland, where centre-back Hendry's 10th-minute red card derailed Scotland's three-at-the-back shape, manager Pocognoli must pick his side for the away match in Skopje.
Scotland manager Pocognoli faces several selection decisions ahead of the away fixture against North Macedonia in Skopje, with Al-Ettifaq defender Hendry unavailable this time. Hendry's early sending-off against Switzerland, after just 10 minutes, effectively ended Scotland's preferred three-at-the-back system in that game, but the manager is expected to persist with it regardless of whether the hosts line up with two forwards, as they did against Switzerland, or one, as in Slovenia.
Several defenders have impressed in recent matches. Swansea City's Stephen Welsh, who started in Slovenia, came on as an early substitute against Switzerland, while Dinamo Zagreb's Scott McKenna has played the full 180 minutes across both games without denting his reputation. Brøndby's Luis Binks made his debut against Switzerland and also looked comfortable at this level.
There could now be an opening for Stoke City's 22-year-old summer signing Luke Graham, who has yet to win his first Scotland cap. Brentford's Aaron Hickey, whose career has been disrupted by injuries, was not risked across both matches this week but could return having been rested against Switzerland.
Pundits on BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound have called for Hickey to be shifted to right central defence to create space for pacy winger Ben Gannon-Doak. That switch would push Torino's Nathan Patterson out of the right wing-back role, following a difficult night for him against Switzerland's strong forward line.
Captain Andy Robertson, who was replaced by Sassuolo's Josh Doig for the final 15 minutes of the loss to Switzerland, is not expected to be rested further, with the Tottenham Hotspur defender set to play the full match in Skopje.
