Stewart has 'concerns' over Scotland system

Michael Stewart fears the system Scotland are playing under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli will not best showcase the squad's talent.

An improved second-half performance in Slovenia almost brought victory for Scotland in Saturday's Nations League opener but they ultimately had to settle for a 0-0 draw.

"One concern I would have moving forward when a manager is ideologically stuck to a system prior to actually dealing with a team or a group of players," Stewart told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

"I've just got a bit of a concern as to seeing how you fit the likes of Ben Gannon-Doak or Josh McPake, who's been outstanding so far - how do they fit into this system? Scott McTominay's obviously got to come back as well.

"Where do you get those guys into the team as well because, for all the good play and opportunities that we created late on, a lot of that came when Ben Gannon-Doak came on high up on the right-hand side.

"You're trying to get your best players on to the park, irrespective of what the system. I'm just a little bit concerned that we're not going to be able to get our best players on the park in the areas of the pitch that are going to cause problems for the opposition."

Stewart regarded Saturday's result as "two points dropped" for the Scots, who played three at the back, wing-backs either side of two central midfielders and three players high up the pitch.

And Stewart praised the performance of "absolute gem" Billy Gilmour.

"He needs to be if not the first name on the sheet then certainly one of them and you need to build round him," Stewart said.

"You need to get him in positions where he can get on the ball, feed the likes of John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Josh McPake, Ben Gannon-Doak, Robbie Ure, Kieron Bowie.

"He's got to be the fulcrum of the side. He's the one that has that genuine top-class ability. You need to get him on the ball in the centre of the park."