Pocognoli sounds out English Premier League duo to commit to Scotland with boss keen to bolster his options

Scotland manager Pocognoli has made contact with Tottenham's Archie Gray and Everton's Hayden Hackney about representing the national team, though both are English-qualified.

Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli has revealed he has sounded out Premier League pair Archie Gray and Hayden Hackney about playing for the national team. Both players are English-born but qualify for Scotland through heritage — Gray is the son of former Scotland striker Andy Gray and related to Leeds legends Frank and Eddie Gray, while Hackney previously represented Scotland's U21 side before committing to England.

Pocognoli said he has made "direct or indirect contact" with both players as part of his proactive approach to strengthening the squad's depth. He stressed that any decision to switch international allegiance must come from the players themselves, not from pressure by the Scottish FA.

The manager cited examples of Scott McTominay and Che Adams, who switched to Scotland and became key players, though previous boss Steve Clarke failed to convince Elliot Anderson and Harvey Barnes.

Pocognoli is preparing Scotland for Nations League matches against North Macedonia and Switzerland and said he is happy with his current squad's depth across all positions. However, he believes it is part of his role to identify eligible players who could strengthen the team in the future, particularly younger prospects with potential.