What Pocognoli has told him to do is try to influence the game “higher up the pitch”.

“It’s nice to hear that he wants me to play in a more advanced role,” Gilmour said.

“If he asks me to do a job then I’ll do my best anywhere on the pitch, whether it’s in defence or up front. Most of all, I’m just happy to be playing.

“I know, if I’m not on the ball, I can’t be a threat as much as I want to in the game.”

Gilmour set up Sassuolo striker Kieron Bowie for the first goal of Pocognoli’s reign and send them on to the Belgian’s first victory, 2-0 in North Macedonia on Saturday.

“As a group, you’ve seen we are aggressive and on the front foot, playing through the lines, and we’ve created a lot of chances, although we have not took as many as we’d have liked,” he said when asked what had changed tactically under the new regime.

“But we’re creating chances, the fans are getting excited and us, as players, we enjoy playing it.

“Of course it’s still early and will take time, but we’re doing well so far.”

Gilmour will now be dreaming matching what he described as the “incredible” and “amazing” achievement of captain Andy Robertson, who earned his 100th cap in Skopje.

Ever humble, though, Gilmour already sees himself as one of the elder statesmen willing to pass down his advice to some of the fresh young talent being squeezed into the squad by the new head coach.

“I was the youngest when I came in,” Gilmour recalled. “Steve Clarke brought me in and I can’t thank him enough for putting his trust in me.

“I think we’ve got great players in the squad – a lot of new faces also. We have experienced players who will help the youngsters, but we’ll need to take our time and be patient, but so far we’re getting to grips with it.”

Pocognoli has certainly seen Gilmour’s value, with three starts in three games.

“We try to play the football he also likes because he is really involved in terms of the connection between the defenders and high up the pitch,” the Belgian said.

“With Napoli, he just started to play some minutes before the camp, but now I hope it will help him take the next step with his club.”

Slovenia counterpart Bostjan Cesar is also an admirer – and is aware of the danger posed to his side by Scotland’s diminutive midfield general.

“Billy Gilmour is a very good player in the Italian top division and he had a really good season, where he was the engine of his team,” he said.

“We will try to match his skill.”

Isaac Price missed a late penalty as Northern Ireland were held to a goalless draw by Georgia which nevertheless keeps them top of their Nations League group.

Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili guessed right to keep out Price’s 84th-minute spot-kick after a combination of Nodar Lominadze and Saba Sazonov fouled Ruairi McConville as he sent a header against the crossbar during a goalmouth scramble.

Jamie Donley and Josh Magennis also brought saves out of Mamardashvili and Tom Atcheson felt he had should have had a first-half penalty, but Northern Ireland were held to a stalemate for the second time in a week at Windsor Park.

Georgia, still yet to score in this season’s Nations League, responded to their 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland in Tbilisi 11 days ago by sacking Willy Sagnol, but Ramaz Svanadze is still awaiting his first win in charge despite Khvicha Kvaratskhelia showing flashes of his brilliance in the second half.

Northern Ireland started the night as the only side yet to concede in this season’s Nations League, and Pierce Charles made big saves from Zuriko Davitashvili and Giorgi Tsitaishvili to make it four competitive clean sheets in a row for the first time since 2017.

The 21-year-old goalkeeper’s seventh clean sheet in nine competitive appearances ensured Michael O’Neill’s side remain top of Group B2 by a single point from Hungary.

Northern Ireland’s confidence showed in their positive early intent but it took time to wear down a Georgia side who stubbornly defended their box.

McConville was first to test Mamardashvili as he met Justin Devenny’s cross but his header was pushed to safety.

With the Northern Ireland fans singing ‘Who are you?’ at Ballon d’Or nominee Kvaratskhelia the visitors fashioned the clearest chance yet as Davitashvili wriggled free and hit a powerful strike that brought an excellent save from Pierce Charles.

Northern Ireland were soon back in the ascendancy, and when Trai Hume’s long throw was allowed to bounce in the box, an improvised looping effort from Donley had Mamardashvili scrambling back.

Patrick Kelly then charged into the box but made the wrong choice in trying to find Donley as his cross was picked off, and Atcheson could not believe he was the one penalised in a clash with Sazonov but the decision was confirmed by a VAR check.

Northern Ireland struggled to replicate that fluidity after the break with some loose passing, and there was a further blow just after the hour when Ethan Galbraith, full of ideas on his return to the side after welcoming a baby boy, hobbled off.

Georgia were growing in confidence, and Pierce Charles did well to gather a deflected strike from Tsitaishvili before Kvaratskhelia blazed over.

It ended chaotically. When Shea Charles won the ball on the edge of the box it ran for Magennis who forced the save from Mamardashvili.

From the resulting corner, McConville got up but took a boot in the face Lominadze and a shove from Sazonov, with Austrian referee Sebastian Gishamer awarding the penalty after being sent to the screen.

Price, who scored his first goal in 10 internationals against Ukraine on Friday, stepped up but it was a comfortable save for the Georgia goalkeeper.

With almost the last kick of the game, Georgia appealed in vain for a penalty after Callum Marshall collided with Sazonov in the corner of the Northern Ireland box.

Northern Ireland’s upcoming Nations League Group B2 fixtures

• Saturday November 14 – Ukraine (H), kick-off 7.45pm
• Tuesday November 17 – Hungary (A), kick-off 7.45pm