Sebastien Pocognoli, the newly appointed manager of the Scotland national team, has unveiled his first selection, and it features a notable influx of newcomers. Among the five players earning their first full international caps are Sevilla striker Robbie Ure and Luis Binks, the captain of Danish SuperLiga side Brøndby.
The other three debutants are Celtic defender Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake, and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Welsh, all of whom have been called up for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. The squad also marks the long‑awaited return of Hull City forward Oli McBurnie, who last represented Scotland in 2021.
Goalkeeping duties will be shared by Scott Bain and Jon McCracken after veteran Craig Gordon announced his retirement following the World Cup campaign. In addition, Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour is back in the fold after a knee injury forced him out of Steve Clarke’s final squad.
Luke Graham, a Stoke City defender who impressed during Scotland’s pre‑World Cup training camp in May, has earned a place thanks to a breakthrough season with Dundee. Graham, who has three caps at under‑21 level, played every minute as Stoke secured three victories and a draw in their last four Championship matches.
Further additions include Sassuolo duo Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, Udinese’s Lennon Miller, and Hearts forward James Wilson, all of whom have been recalled to the senior side. Notably absent are Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who is recovering from minor heart surgery, Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland, sidelined with a hamstring problem, and Torino forward Che Adams, who is also dealing with injury.
Overall, twelve players who featured at the World Cup are missing from Pocognoli’s inaugural list. Among those omitted are Rangers centre‑back John Souttar, Celtic’s Anthony Ralston, Hibernian defender Grant Hanley, Wrexham midfielder Dominic Hyam, Manchester United’s Tyler Fletcher, Millwall’s Lyndon Dykes, Stoke forward George Hirst, and Swansea striker Ross Stewart. A closer look at the newcomers reveals interesting background details. Luis Binks, at 25, captains Brøndby and has previously represented Scotland at under‑18 level before switching allegiance to England’s youth teams.
Robbie Ure, a former Rangers academy product, secured a high‑profile move to La Liga side Sevilla after an outstanding spell with Swedish club Sirius, where he scored 20 goals in as many games. Ure is also eligible for Ukraine through the grand‑parent rule. Josh McPake has earned his call‑up after an impressive run since joining Hearts from St Johnstone, while Stephen Welsh’s inclusion follows a productive loan spell at Motherwell from Celtic.
Right‑back Colby Donovan has been a mainstay in Celtic’s defence this season and replaces his teammate Anthony Ralston in the national team setup. The goalkeeping department lists Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers) and Jon McCracken (Bradford City) as the four options between the sticks. The defensive line‑up for the upcoming matches features Luis Binks, Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Colby Donovan, Luke Graham, Jack Hendry (Al‑Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham) and Kieran Tierney (Celtic), with Stephen Welsh completing the midfield‑defence hybrid roles. Midfield selections include Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Josh McPake, and Lennon Miller (Udinese).
Up front, the forwards are Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon‑Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure and James Wilson (Hearts). Pocognoli addressed the media after announcing his squad, emphasizing his tactical philosophy: "The most important thing for me is the style of play I want to see on the pitch. My selections have been guided by that principle.
I could have named many more players, but I had to make choices based on how they fit our system, their fitness and recent playing time. The balance between experienced campaigners, fresh faces, first‑cap players and those returning from injury is crucial. We want to pass on the DNA, heritage and culture of Scottish football while starting a new chapter. This is a fresh opportunity for many and a chance to prove themselves both on and off the field." Former Scotland striker James McFadden, speaking to Sky Sports News, praised Ure’s inclusion: "Robbie’s been on our radar for a while, especially after his prolific spell in Sweden before the World Cup.
Securing a move to Sevilla shows he can compete at the highest level. He’s taken an unconventional route, but his bravery and determination deserve respect." Regarding Oli McBurnie’s recall, McFadden added: "Oli has worked hard to earn this chance. There’s been some criticism of him over recent years, but his passion for wearing the Scotland shirt is undeniable. He’s been patient, refined his game in the Premier League, and now deserves a look to see if he can claim the number nine role for us." Scotland’s Nations League schedule under Pocognoli will see them face Slovenia on September 26 (2 pm), Switzerland on September 29 (7:45 pm), North Macedonia on October 3 (7:45 pm), a return fixture with Slovenia on October 6 (7:45 pm), another match against North Macedonia on November 13 (7:45 pm) and finally Switzerland again on November 16 (7:45 pm).
The new manager hopes the blend of seasoned internationals and hungry newcomers will deliver competitive performances and set the foundation for future success.