Robbie Ure, the Sevilla forward, and Luis Binks of Brøndby have secured their first full senior caps for Scotland, joining four other newcomers in manager Sebastien Pocognoli's debut selection. The squad also features Celtic centre‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Welsh, all of whom have earned their maiden call‑ups ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Among the more seasoned names is Hull City striker Oli McBurnie, who makes a long‑awaited return after his last appearance for Scotland in 2021. The goalkeeping department sees the return of Scott Bain and Jon McCracken following veteran Craig Gordon’s retirement after the World Cup.
Napoli’s Billy Gilmour is also back in the mix 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 and enjoyed a breakthrough season with Dundee, has earned a place in the 26‑man roster. Graham, who has already been capped three times at under‑21 level, has been an ever‑present figure for the Potters as they recorded three victories and a draw in their last four Championship outings.
Additional call‑ups include Sassuolo duo Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, Udinese’s Lennon Miller, and Hearts forward James Wilson, all of whom have been recalled to add depth across the pitch. Unfortunately, Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay will miss out as he continues to recover from a minor heart operation. Rangers’ prolific striker Lawrence Shankland is sidelined with a hamstring problem, and Torino forward Che Adams is also out injured.
In total, twelve players who featured at the World Cup are absent from Pocognoli’s first list. The omissions also extend to Rangers defender John Souttar, Celtic’s Anthony Ralston, Hibernian centre‑back Grant Hanley, Wrexham midfielder Dominic Hyam, Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher, Millwall’s Lyndon Dykes, Stoke forward George Hirst and Swansea striker Ross Stewart. Binks, who captains Danish SuperLiga side Brøndby, is a 25‑year‑old who previously represented Scotland at under‑18 level before switching allegiance to England’s youth teams.
Robbie Ure, a product of the Rangers academy, earned a high‑profile move to La Liga side Sevilla after a prolific spell at Swedish club Sirius, where he scored 20 goals in 20 games. The 22‑year‑old also qualifies for Ukraine through a grandparental link.
Josh McPake has been rewarded for his impressive displays since joining Hearts from St Johnstone in the summer, while Stephen Welsh earned his spot after a successful loan at Motherwell from Celtic last season. Right‑back Colby Donovan has featured in every Celtic match this campaign and replaces his teammate Anthony Ralston in the back line.
The full goalkeeper roster includes Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers) and Jon McCracken (Bradford City). The defensive contingent features Luis Binks (Brøndby), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Colby Donovan (Celtic), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al‑Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham), Kieran Tierney (Celtic) and Stephen Welsh (Swansea City). Midfield selections comprise Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Josh McPake (Hearts) and Lennon Miller (Udinese). Up front, the attackers are Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon‑Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla) and James Wilson (Hearts).
After announcing the squad, Pocognoli explained his philosophy: "The most important factor 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 tough choices. Some omissions are due to injuries or lack of playing time, but ultimately it is about fitting the system I intend to implement." He added, "We have a healthy blend of experienced campaigners, fresh faces, first‑cap players and returning veterans.
The aim is to welcome the newcomers, integrate the seasoned heads, and pass on the DNA, heritage and culture of Scottish football. This is a new chapter – a fresh book – and what happened before belongs to the past. Now we build something new. It is an opportunity for some, a true new beginning for others.
The proof will be on the field, with the right attitude both on and off the pitch." Former Scotland striker James McFadden, speaking to Sky Sports News, praised Ure’s inclusion: "Robbie has been on our radar ever since his standout season in Sweden before the World Cup, but he missed out last time. His move to Sevilla proves he can compete at the highest level. Scotland has struggled to produce quality forwards for years, and his arrival adds healthy competition." McFadden also defended McBurnie’s recall: "Oli deserves his chance.
There’s been a lot of criticism aimed at him over the past few years, but he’s remained passionate about wearing the Scotland shirt. He’s worked hard, improved his game, and now he’s back in the Premier League. He certainly merits a look to see if he can claim the number nine role for the national side." The upcoming fixtures for the new Scotland side are listed as follows: Slovenia vs Scotland on 26 September at 14:00, Scotland vs Switzerland on 29 September at 19:45, North Macedonia vs Scotland on 3 October at 19:45, Scotland vs Slovenia on 6 October at 19:45, Scotland vs North Macedonia on 13 November at 19:45, and Switzerland vs Scotland on 16 November at 19:45.
Fans are encouraged to follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest updates, video highlights, in‑depth analysis and more. For those seeking extra excitement, a Super 6 competition is being run with a £1 million prize pool, free entry for participants.
The tournament offers an additional way for supporters to engage with Scottish football while testing their knowledge and luck.