Seb Pocognoli this week called up Kristi Montgomery to replace the injured Kenny McLean in the Scotland squad. As well as Montgomery, another option instead was Ethan Erhahon. Football Insider report an attempt by Nigeria to persuade Erhahon to switch allegiance from Scotland to them. We analyse which of Ethan Erhahon & Kristi Montgomery should Pocognoli have called up ahead of Scotland’s opening 2026 Nations League game in Slovenia?
Ethan Erhahon & Kristi Montgomery basics
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Age | 22 | 25 |
| Height | 5 ft 9 | 6 ft 0 |
| Club | Bolton Wanderers | Blackburn Rovers |
| Club division | English 2nd tier | English 2nd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 81.2 (10th globally) | 81.2 (10th globally) |
| League mins this season | 518 | 688 (32.8% > than 518) |
| Current FotMob rating | 7.24 | 7.10 |
Ethan Erhahon & Kristi Montgomery are similar players. Namely they both are best known for the DM attributes playing for clubs this season in England’s 2nd tier. 25-year-old Erhahon unsurprisingly is more experienced than 22-year-old Montgomery. That includes not just last season when emerging Montgomery was in & out of the Blackburn first team, before establishing himself as a regular from April. Namely, Erhahon has much more first team experience including previously playing for Lincoln City & before that, St Mirren. This season is the first Erhahon has played at his current division, after winning promotion with Bolton last season.
Before McLean’s squad withdrawal through injury, Montgomery was again named in Tony Docherty’s U21 squad for their forthcoming games versus Azerbaijan & Bulgaria. Montgomery already has 5 caps at that level. Erhahon is now too old to be eligible for age group football & hasn’t been in an U21 squad since June 2021.
Has Ethan Erhahon or Kristi Montgomery the better stats this season?
Appendixed below are stats copied from FotMob, side-by-side comparing the 2 players this season in the league. Bear in mind Montgomery has played 170 (32.8%) more league mins this season than Erhahon. We spotlight some interesting points from those tables. Bear in mind also how early in the season this is & thus the relatively small sample size of data.
1. Kristi Montgomery has a better goal scoring threat
While both have only 1 career senior goal scored to their name, Montgomery has a relatively much higher xG, xGOT & also more touches in the opposition box than Erhahon. However, goal scoring while always valuable, is unlikely to be a priority for Pocognoli when looking for a Kenny McLean style of player. McLean has 3 goals from his 60 Scotland caps. Erhahon is being encouraged by Rovers boss, Tony Mowbray, to add goals to his game.
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.20 | 0.35 |
| xG on target (xGOT) | 0.25 | 0.74 |
| Touches in opposition box | 3 | 10 |
2. Ethan Erhahon has better long range passing
Erhahon despite playing much less game time has attempted many more long range passes than Montgomery. Erhahon similarly has a much higher completion rate, helping explain why he has the confidence to attempt so many.
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Accurate long balls | 16 | 6 |
| Accurate long balls % | 69.6% | 40% |
3. Kristi Montgomery has better aerial dominance
This is no surprise. While Montgomery hasn’t the height of LeBron James, 3 inches taller means he is always likely to surpass Erhahon in aerial duels.
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Aerial duels won | 1 | 11 |
| Aerial duels won % | 20% | 42.3 |
4. Kristi Montgomery is better for retaining possession
Unsurprisingly Montgomery has touched the ball over 30% more times than Erhahon, given the additional minutes Montgomery has played. However even having played those additional minutes, Montgomery has been dispossessed half as many times as Erhahon.
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Touches | 325 | 448 |
| Dispossessed | 6 | 3 |
5. Kristi Montgomery has made more defensive contributions
Even equating with his additional 32% playing time, Montgomery comes out on top on this one.
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Defensive contributions | 35 | 59 |
6. Ethan Erhahon has made more recoveries
Erhahon has made significantly more despite playing significantly less minutes. FotMob rates Erhahon for recoveries in the 96% percentile for his position, highlighting this is a real strength for him. Given the high energy, front foot pressing Pocognoli has indicated that he likes his teams to play with, Erhahon’s talents in ball recovery could suit him well to Pocognoli’s style.
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Recoveries | 44 | 35 |
Should Pocognoli have called up Ethan Erhahon instead of Kristi Montgomery?
At least based on these stats, Montgomery overall seems the form player of the 2 to have called up. Erhahon of course though still has much to offer, such as in long passing & ball recovery. Calling up & capping Erhahon would have ended any prospect of Nigeria poaching him. Based on league stats so far this season, though, Montgomery seems the much better long term prospect of the 2. 22-year-old Montgomery has more years ahead to improve compared to 25-year-old Erhahon. Given the competition for places in the Scotland MF, Erhahon at his age & level seems unlikely to become a Scotland cap unless there are more injuries affecting players ahead of him in the queue.
In contrast, FotMob at an overall level currently rates Ethan Erhahon (7.24) higher than Kristi Montgomery (7.10). That is likely since the stats in this article are only from league games this season. FotMob’s rating is likely from a wider scope of games played.
Appendix: Ethan Erhahon & Kristi Montgomery full tables
A small number of stats from FotMob are not listed below since they are more team than individual stats.
Shooting
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Goals | 1 | 1 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.20 | 0.35 |
| xG on target (xGOT) | 0.25 | 0.74 |
| Non-penalty xG | 0.20 | 0.35 |
| Shots | 3 | 4 |
| Shots on target | 1 | 2 |
Passing
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Successful passes | 224 | 287 |
| Successful passes % | 90% | 88.6% |
| Accurate long balls | 16 | 6 |
| Accurate long balls % | 69.6% | 40% |
| Chances created | 4 | 5 |
Possession
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Successful dribbles | 1 | 1 |
| Successful dribbles % | 50% | 37.5% |
| Duels won | 23 | 39 |
| Duels won % | 54.8% | 52% |
| Aerial duels won | 1 | 11 |
| Aerial duels won % | 20.0% | 42.3% |
| Touches | 325 | 448 |
| Touches in opposition box | 3 | 10 |
| Dispossessed | 6 | 3 |
| Fouls won | 5 | 4 |
Defending
| Ethan Erhahon | Kristi Montgomery | |
| Defensive contributions | 35 | 59 |
| Tackles | 16 | 21 |
| Interceptions | 8 | 17 |
| Blocked shots | 3 | 4 |
| Fouls committed | 5 | 8 |
| Recoveries | 44 | 35 |
| Possession won final 3rd | 2 | 2 |
| Dribbled past | 3 | 6 |
| Clearances | 8 | 17 |
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