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Sébastien Pocognoli hopes a “smiling” Billy Gilmour will be central to Scotland’s hopes of improvement following a bruising World Cup.

Gilmour excelled in the second half on Saturday, as Pocognoli’s debut as manager ended in a goalless away draw against Slovenia in the Nations League. The Napoli midfielder missed the World Cup, where the Scots exited at the group stage, through injury. “If you have a player who plays one touch without even looking where he puts the ball it means that he understands the game plan,” Pocognoli said of Gilmour before his Hampden Park bow against Switzerland on Tuesday evening.