Sebastien Pocognoli told he has perfect Scotland solution after Celtic 'frustration' fuels career reboot

The Swansea City defender has been a standout at English Championship level this season after a permanent exit from Celtic in the summer transfer window. His career was at a crossroads in 2025 following a loan to Belgium with Mechelen but a season mostly spent with Motherwell under Jens Berthel Askou last season has rebooted Welsh’s career.

He was one of the Premiership’s top defenders in a campaign where Motherwell finished fourth and now Pocognoli has called upon him for Nations League matches against Slovenia, North Macedonia an Switzerland, where Scotland are likely to start transitioning to the Belgian’s ball-playing methods. It’s a shift from predecessor Steve Clarke’s pragmatic style, but Motherwell assistant manager Max Rogers reckons Welsh is an ideal solution, having watched him grow first-hand at Fir Park.

Will Stephen Welsh shine for Scotland?

“Welshy was really good for us and technically he's up there with the best I've worked with in coaching,” said Rogers. “I think he suits that profile of a modern centre-back, being able to take the ball under pressure, he understands the game well tactically in terms of how to play out through pressure and find the free man. I'm sure he was frustrated at Celtic maybe not getting the opportunities to have a consistent playing season there.

“He had a loan out in Belgium I think. I know when he came here he was just really desperate to play and do well and obviously kick on his career. He's obviously done that and doing well at Swansea now which is great. It's obviously dictated by how the Scotland manager wants to play but I'd like to think he is more than capable of playing."

Welsh was one of several players who played under Askou - now at Ligue 1’s Toulouse - that clinched big moves over the summer. Motherwell’s record transfer fee was broken by Swansea to reunite Welsh with Elijah Just while Calum Ward joined fellow Championship side QPR.

Callum Slattery signed for Sheffield Wednesday, and Elliot Watt was also mooted as a possible option for the Scotland squad after moving to Samsunspor in Turkey, following his Motherwell success. Rogers has remained at Fir Park to work under current manager Alfred Johansson and they are aiming to find the next stars in the mould of players like Welsh. Regardless of what’s come before, a platform to shine is key, as that ensures talent will have the best chance of rising to the surface.

"They just need to believe in themselves,” explained the Fir Park number two. “A platform to play, working hard in training, getting their confidence up, and yeah, have that platform to go and play. I think that's what we are at Motherwell. A club that gives players an opportunity who have maybe started their career really well and then took a little dip.

“They can come to Motherwell and get the right support, get the right coaching, play in a manner that suits the top European teams, and then can obviously kick on from there like what happened in the summer. It's disappointing when you lose top players but I think we've replaced them really well. Now we want the next batch to develop and move on as well."

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