Ben Gannon Doak ‘frustrated’ by Sebastien Pocognoli’s demand as Scotland coach faces winger dilemma.

Ben Gannon-Doak could be growing frustrated with his role in Scotland’s new system, after being asked to operate as a wing-back under head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.

That is the view of former Rangers and Aberdeen defender Richard Foster, who believes the Belgian may need to reconsider his formation following Scotland’s unconvincing performance against North Macedonia. Foster suggested that asking a natural winger to take on defensive responsibilities could limit the player’s enthusiasm and effectiveness.

Gannon-Doak’s unfamiliar role

The 21-year-old Bournemouth attacker featured as a wing-back during Scotland’s 2-1 Nations League victory over North Macedonia at Hampden on Friday night.

Pocognoli has used Gannon-Doak in the deeper wide position because it allows him to maintain the tactical structure he wants.

However, Foster believes the arrangement may not be welcomed by the player himself.

Foster questions the tactical approach

Speaking on BBC Sportsound, Foster said a full-back moving into a wing-back role can enjoy the opportunity.

For a winger, though, the adjustment can be far less appealing. Foster suggested that wide attackers may become frustrated when they are expected to spend much of their time tracking back rather than concentrating on taking opponents on and creating danger in the final third.

He indicated that Gannon-Doak could be among those who would prefer to play in a more advanced role. He pointed to the attacking options Scotland had available against North Macedonia and questioned why Pocognoli did not introduce any of them.

Exciting wingers left on the bench

Foster identified Gannon-Doak, Findlay Curtis and Josh McPake as three of the most exciting players in the Scotland squad. All are natural wide attackers, but none was brought on during the match against North Macedonia.

Foster argued that Scotland should be looking to make better use of players capable of injecting pace, directness and excitement into their attacking play.

In his view, the formation is restricting the manager’s options. If Pocognoli wants to use Gannon-Doak as a winger, Foster believes Scotland should adopt a shape that includes genuine wide attacking positions instead of asking him to perform a role that does not naturally suit him.

Hickey or Patterson could provide the answer

Foster suggested that Pocognoli could retain a system built around three central defenders while selecting a specialist right wing-back. He mentioned Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson as possible candidates for that position.

Using either of them would allow Gannon-Doak to move further forward, where his pace and one-versus-one ability could be used more naturally.

Foster’s argument is that Scotland do not need to sacrifice an exciting winger simply to make the preferred formation work. Instead, the manager could select players whose qualities match the demands of each position and adjust the shape to get more from the squad.

Pocognoli stands by his selection

Pocognoli was asked about Gannon-Doak’s performance after Friday’s match and defended the way he had used the young attacker. The Scotland boss said he was satisfied as long as the player remained high up the pitch and was able to create one-versus-one situations.

He also acknowledged that Gannon-Doak is still young and has specific areas of his game that require improvement. Pocognoli felt the winger had enjoyed good opportunities during the match, but stressed that his final product must become better.

Nevertheless, Foster’s criticism raises a wider question about whether Scotland are getting the best out of their attacking talent.

The situation also highlights the challenge of balancing a coach’s preferred system with the strengths of the players available. A formation can provide structure, but it must also allow attacking footballers to use the qualities that made them valuable selections in the first place. Gannon-Doak’s speed and ability to beat a defender are important weapons for Scotland. If he is positioned too deep, the team may lose some of the threat he can offer close to the opposition penalty area in important moments too.

A decision facing Scotland’s manager

With Switzerland next, Pocognoli must decide whether to continue with Gannon-Doak at wing-back or make changes that allow the Bournemouth player to operate in his preferred attacking position.

Foster believes a formation change is necessary if Scotland want their most exciting wingers to feature. Whether Pocognoli agrees remains to be seen, but the debate over Gannon-Doak’s role is now a significant talking point ahead of the next fixture.