The winger dazzles as Bournemouth thumped the San Siro giants in the Europa League earlier this month
Ben Gannon-Doak in action for Bournemouth against AC Milan(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
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Sebastien Pocognoli watched Scotland star Ben Gannon-Doak torment AC Milan in Europe - and says he’s now ready to take his international form to the next level.
The Bournemouth winger is one of the national side’s most prodigious talents. But after making a £25 million move from Liverpool in 2025, he’s struggled for regular game time at the Vitality Stadium.
Gannon-Doak performed well for his country, even when he wasn’t playing for his club. But this season under new boss Marco Rose, he’s featuring more for the Cherries in the Premier League and particularly in Europe.
He was man-of-the-match in Bournemouth’s historic 3-0 victory over Milan in the Europa League last month.
Scotland gaffer Pocognoli has already seen improvement in the 20-year-old since his first camp as gaffer.
And ahead of the Nations League fixtures against North Macedonia and Switzerland, the Belgian has backed Gannon-Doak to get even better.
Pocognoli said: “Ben’s intensity is now totally different from when he arrived at the first camp in La Manga.
“You saw him press against AC Milan and in other Europa League games. It’s a totally different fitness now.
“I’m very happy with him. I believe that if we are playing good football it doesn’t matter the shape, he’s now in the best position.
“He’s a young lad, 20-years-old, so he needs confidence and to feel the love. But he’s a top player and top players want to improve every day.
“I like his mentality, it’s exciting to see it. But what’s most exciting is that he’s still to improve on many aspects of the game.
“If he can improve on being more clinical in front of goal he would probably have scored two goals in the last camp.
“His assist and crossing was more with the idea before of, ‘if I put a cross in Scott McTominay will make a bicycle kick’.
“But now you see a little bit more of him thinking what the next action is when he’s dribbling.
“When he’s more efficient I think he will be at a different level.
“But he’s only 20 so it’s quite exciting.”
Pocognoli has welcomed McTominay into his squad for the first time after the Napoli star recovered from heart surgery.
Napoli favourite Scott McTominay(Image: Marco Canoniero/Shutterstock)
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The 29-year-old is back scoring goals in Serie A and the new Scotland manager was delighted to start working with him this week. He said: “I’ve had a very good impression of Scott.
“I can imagine the fans are really excited to see him back, it has been a long time since the World Cup.
“If I was him I’d be really excited too. We will try to have a game plan so he can shine and not be too dependent on what he can produce from an individual action.
“I am really excited to see if it can work and what he can bring to the way we want to play.
“He missed the first camp but I was in contact with him.
“He’s excited to start a new book and try to push the level higher, to be successful for the next tournament.”