Wouter Vrancken tonight predicted new Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli will have been impressed with the displays of James Wilson and Josh McPake in Hearts’ win over Hibernian – and expressed confidence Calvin Miller will be in the frame for a call-up too.
Striker Wilson and winger McPake both scored in the Tynecastle club’s comfortable William Hill Premiership win over their city rivals at Easter Road this evening as Pocognoli looked on.
The Belgian will name his squad for the opening Nations League matches against Slovenia, Switzerland and North Macedonia soon and his countryman Vrancken will not be surprised if the Gorgie duo are featuring in his thoughts.
But the former Mechelen, Genk, Gent and Sint-Truiden head coach also feels that Miller, who scored an extra-time goal against Rapid Vienna in Austria last week that helped to send the Gorgie men into the Conference League league phase, will be in contention.
Asked about McPake, he said, “He was really good. Of course, it was a really good team performance. But I'm happy to see the individuals like Josh make their steps. Because it was not always easy at the beginning.
“He had some troubles in being decisive in moments in the friendlies. But we spoke about it and he makes improvements every week. I like to see them being decisive because it gives extra confidence to the players and to the attackers.
“I am also happy to see not only the goals he makes, but that he can keep the overview in the final third and make the right decisions. It's also a very, very important quality.
Vrancken was delighted to see teenage forward Wilson, who is Scotland’s youngest ever player, net his fourth goal in five games for Hearts in the first half of the Hibs encounter in Leith.
“I like when strikers keep scoring,” he said. “It's good for him. He is also adapting on the style of play. But he's also a guy who was always from the start coachable, trying to get feedback and discussing moments that he didn't understand.
“If he had doubts in the game he can discuss it and ask what we have to do. So he's really learning in this moment. You see him improving his game. This is good to see because we like a striker that scores his goals of course.”
Asked if he thought Pocognoli would have been impressed with the contribution of McPake and Wilson, Vrancken said, “I think so. I didn't call him today and I didn't see him after the game yet. Maybe as a fellow Belgian I have to give him a call.
“But it's not only those two, it's also Calvin who has been performing at a high level all season. So I think they will look to these guys. But for me it is no problem if he gives them some rest in the international break!”
