Scotland Men's Football Team

Meanwhile, Torino have reached agreement with Everton to sign Scotland right-back Nathan Patterson, 24. (David Ornstein, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Scotland star John McGinn says he was "desperate" to join Celtic in the summer of 2018 before eventually leaving Hibernian for Aston Villa.

Midfielder McGinn has established himself as a key Premier League figure for Villa, becoming club captain and winning the Europa League last season, leaving Celtic to rue what might have been.

The 31-year-old grew up as a Celtic supporter and his grandfather Jack was the club's chairman from 1986 to 1991.

Celtic had multiple bids turned down by Hibs and McGinn believes there was a degree of complacency in the way the Parkhead club approached the transfer.

"If he wasn't my grandpa and I wasn't a Celtic fan, I probably would be a Celtic player," McGinn told The Overlap podcast., external

"They felt because I was a Celtic fan, it would just happen. Nobody else would come in and Hibs would crumble.

"Hibs were amazing. They said 'We're not going to stand in your way, but they need to pay us what you're worth.'

"I gave them my word that I'd wait until they pay what I worth and it never got there. It was two or three million.

"They actually phoned my grandpa to try to influence me, but he had a good relationship with both sides. He trusted me and my agent and he said 'It's nothing to do with me, if you've got the money, pay the money.'

"It went on for months. I met Brendan [Rodgers]. I was desperate to go to Celtic."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at Planet Group Arena, Belgium

Image source, SNS

You never know who's watching...

That's very much Josh Mulligan's approach as the midfielder hopes to impress in Hibernian's Conference League play-off against Gent.

The 23-year-old has been subject to interest from Italy and England, but the Scot had eyes closer to home in mind, in the form of new Scotland head coach, Sebastien Pocognoli.

While David Gray's Hibs hope to smash through the target they set on day one of pre-season - creating history by advancing to European league-phase football - the former Dundee player, who was called up to Steve Clarke's squad but has yet to make an appearance, is planning to catch Pocognoli's attention.

When it was highlighted putting out a side from the national team's boss' home country couldn't do any arm, Mulligan replied with a smile: "I know. He might be watching the game, you just never know who's watching.

"I don't know the new manager's thinking. I think everyone will be really looking to do well and try and get in that squad

"It's just what you do on the pitch. You'll get your rewards for what you do on the pitch."

What we do know, though, is Mulligan is not getting caught up in transfer speculation.

"I don't get too far ahead of myself," he added. "I always try and stick to what's going on on the pitch, I just don't want to get in the way of anything, really."

Scotland forward George Hirst, 27, is set to join Stoke City from Ipswich Town in a £10m deal. (Sun, external)

Former Scotland forward Ross McCormack, 40, has joined Giffnock North AAC. (Sun, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland in Ghent, Belgium

Image source, SNS

In the week Scotland appointed a Belgian head coach, Sebastien Pocognoli, it was of great use that Hibernian headed to Ghent in the Conference League.

It meant a few inquisitive Scottish journalists were allowed to throw some questions of the national team's new boss to one of his former contemporaries, Gent coach Rik De Mil.

The former goalkeeper was in charge of Charleroi when Pocognoli guided Union Saint-Gilloise to their first league title in 90 years.

"He's a very good coach, he did very well here in Union," De Mil said.

"He's a young coach and he's somebody who is really direct in his communication and close to his players.

"All the players like him and his communication - being honest and direct.

"He's developing his style, because in Union, it was his first real head coach role. There, it was a five-at-the-back and trying to be dominant, but at the same time, they could also drop really low, keep the clean sheet and be good on the counter-attack.

"But he developed that team into being a dominant team, playing higher up the pitch, so you saw that development with him here and then he learned new things in Monaco.

"As a young coach, you need to do different things to get that experience and I think he's at the level now to take this challenge in Scotland with the experience he has.

"So, I think you made a good choice... I think when you take a Belgian guy, it's always a good choice."

Image source, PA Media

Former Scotland forward James McFadden does not expect a "massively different" squad announced when Sebastien Pocognoli names his first selection as national head coach.

However, McFadden does believe three forwards that missed out on Steve Clarke's Scotland World Cup squad may come into consideration.

"I don't think it'll be massively different," McFadden told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"I understand that maybe Steve Clark would have looked at a Robbie Ure anyway, but I think that certainly moving to Sevilla, the season he's had or was having in Sweden would suggest that he'd be there.

"[Keiron] Bowie comes into the reckoning as well because it's a position we need strength.

"Does he then look at Ollie McBurnie, who had a fantastic season last season?"

Image source, Getty Images

After Sebastien Pocognoli was unveiled as the new Scotland head coach at Hampden Park on Monday, Steven Thompson presents a special episode of the Scottish Football Podcast.

Thompson is joined by James McFadden and BBC Scotland's chief sports writer Tom English to discuss the appointment, first impressions and what might follow.

Listen and subscribe.

Sebastien Pocognoli outlines what he wants to see from his Scotland side after being appointed head coach.