Why Sebastien Pocognoli was in the stands for Celtic’s clash with LASK

Scotland’s new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has wasted little time getting to work, with the Belgian making a visit to Celtic Park to watch Celtic’s Champions League clash with LASK.

Pocognoli was in the stands just three days after being appointed as Steve Clarke’s successor, signalling his intention to get a close look at players who could feature in his Scotland plans.

The new boss had already admitted that he was conducting plenty of research and speaking to people as he prepares for his first international fixtures.

Kieran Tierney started at left-back for Celtic, while Anthony Ralston was among the substitutes. Both players were members of Scotland’s World Cup squad, meaning Pocognoli will already have plenty of knowledge of their abilities.

However, another Celtic player may have caught his attention. Young defender Colby Donovan was handed another Champions League start and delivered an impressive performance against LASK.

Donovan has already represented Scotland at Under-21 level, but his recent run of first-team appearances for Celtic is a relatively new development.

With Alistair Johnston sidelined through injury, Donovan has been given more opportunities by Martin O’Neill and continued to justify the manager’s faith in him against LASK.

Pocognoli’s presence at Celtic Park could therefore prove significant for the youngster, with a senior Scotland call-up potentially becoming a realistic possibility if he continues to perform at this level.