Scotland’s latest international camp has been thrown into further controversy after another dramatic development involving the national team and a Rangers player.
The headline will immediately raise eyebrows among supporters, particularly given the number of changes Sébastien Pocognoli has already been forced to make since taking charge of Scotland.
The new Scotland boss has endured a turbulent start to his reign, with several established players unavailable and a number of younger names being introduced into the squad.
And after Scotland’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Switzerland, speculation surrounding the squad has only intensified.
The Scots were comfortably beaten at Hampden Park after Jack Hendry’s early red card changed the game, with Ricardo Rodríguez, Nico Elvedi and Zeki Amdouni all finding the net.
The defeat followed a goalless draw against Slovenia in Pocognoli’s first competitive match in charge, meaning Scotland’s new era has hardly gone according to plan.
Now, another alleged dressing-room flashpoint involving a Rangers player has added another layer of intrigue to the situation.
Scotland have already suffered a series of withdrawals
Pocognoli’s squad was already significantly different from the group originally selected.
Scott McTominay was unavailable after undergoing minor heart surgery, while Che Adams and Rangers forward Lawrence Shankland were also missing through injury before the squad was finalised.
Then came another double blow.
Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean were both forced to withdraw after the opening round of club fixtures.
Tierney had started Celtic’s 1-0 defeat to Rangers at Celtic Park before being substituted after 71 minutes. McLean, meanwhile, captained Norwich in their dramatic 4-3 defeat to Bolton. Both subsequently pulled out of Scotland duty.
Pocognoli responded by calling up Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery for his first senior Scotland appearance.
The 22-year-old was one of several inexperienced players brought into a squad undergoing something of a rebuild.
In total, the revised squad contained eight uncapped players, underlining just how much change has taken place around the national team.
The Rangers connection has made the story even more intriguing
The timing is particularly interesting because Scotland’s latest squad has several players with Rangers and Celtic connections.
Rangers goalkeeper Liam Kelly was included, while Findlay Curtis was also selected.
Celtic, meanwhile, were represented by players including Colby Donovan and Stephen Welsh, while Tierney’s withdrawal removed another major Celtic presence from the group.
That naturally means any alleged confrontation involving a Rangers player would attract enormous attention from Scottish football supporters.
The Old Firm rivalry remains one of the most intense in British football, and tensions between players can become a major talking point whenever Celtic and Rangers stars come together on international duty.
However, there has been no official confirmation from the Scottish FA that a dressing-room argument caused any of the recent withdrawals.
That distinction is important.
The confirmed information is that Tierney and McLean withdrew through injury. The Scottish FA itself listed both players as forced to withdraw, with Montgomery subsequently brought into the squad.
The timing could hardly be worse for Pocognoli
Pocognoli’s first international window has already produced plenty of talking points.
Scotland opened the Nations League campaign with a 0-0 draw against Slovenia despite creating opportunities, before the 3-0 defeat by Switzerland exposed some of the problems facing the new manager.
The Swiss victory was particularly damaging because Scotland played with ten men for almost 80 minutes after Hendry was sent off.
Switzerland eventually took full advantage, scoring three times and leaving Scotland with serious questions to answer.
There was frustration throughout the match, with Scotland struggling to create a sustained attacking threat after the early dismissal.
The result also intensified scrutiny on several members of Pocognoli’s squad.
For a manager attempting to establish his authority with a new group of players, the last thing he needs is uncertainty surrounding the dressing room.
Rangers fans will be watching closely
The Rangers angle is likely to make this story particularly explosive among Scottish supporters.
The Ibrox club had already enjoyed a remarkable spell against Celtic, including a 1-0 victory at Celtic Park shortly before the international break.
That match was also significant for Tierney, who was forced off during the second half before subsequently withdrawing from Scotland duty.
Rangers defender James Penrice also attracted attention during the same period after helping his side secure consecutive victories over Celtic.
Penrice later admitted that representing Scotland remains a major ambition, although he was not selected by Pocognoli for the current international fixtures.
With the Old Firm rivalry already dominating Scottish football headlines, any suggestion of tension between Scotland internationals from the two sides is almost guaranteed to attract attention.
Scotland now have another issue to deal with
The bigger concern for Pocognoli is that Scotland cannot afford more disruption.
The manager has already been forced to introduce younger players while dealing with injuries to several experienced internationals.
Montgomery’s promotion is one example of the changing face of the squad.
The Blackburn midfielder was brought in after Tierney and McLean withdrew, having started all eight Championship matches for his club at that point in the season.
Other younger players have also been given opportunities, including Stephen Welsh and Robbie Ure, who both made their Scotland debuts against Slovenia.
The approach could ultimately benefit Scotland in the long term, but Pocognoli will want stability if he is going to build a team capable of competing consistently.
And that is why any genuine dressing-room disagreement would be significant.
The unanswered question
For now, the biggest question is whether the alleged argument actually had anything to do with the latest Scotland withdrawal.
The confirmed squad changes do not establish such a connection.
What is beyond doubt is that Scotland have already experienced several withdrawals during Pocognoli’s opening international window, with Tierney and McLean among the latest players to leave the group.
The national team then suffered a heavy defeat to Switzerland, leaving supporters frustrated and raising further questions about the direction of the new era.
Against that backdrop, any report of a heated exchange involving a Rangers player is bound to generate huge interest.
For Pocognoli, however, the priority will be ensuring that the noise surrounding the squad does not become another distraction.
Scotland’s new manager has already inherited a team undergoing significant change.
Now, with the pressure increasing after the Switzerland defeat, he needs his players focused on the pitch rather than whatever may be happening behind closed doors.
