Sebastien Pocognoli, the freshly appointed manager of the Scotland national team, has unveiled his first selection, featuring a blend of seasoned internationals and five newcomers earning their first full caps. Among the fresh faces are Sevilla forward Robbie Ure and Danish SuperLiga defender Luis Binks, who will join a group that also includes Celtic centre‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Welsh for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
The announcement also marks the long‑awaited return of Hull City striker Oli McBurnie, who last represented Scotland in 2021. Goalkeeping duties will be shared by returning veterans Scott Bain and Jon McCracken after veteran Craig Gordon announced his retirement following the World Cup campaign. Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour is back in the fold after a knee injury forced him out of Steve Clarke’s final squad.
Luke Graham, who impressed during Scotland’s pre‑World Cup training camp in May and enjoyed a breakthrough season with Dundee, has also earned a spot. The Stoke City defender has already amassed three caps at under‑21 level and has been a constant presence as his club collected three wins and a draw in their last four Championship matches. Further additions include Sassuolo duo Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, Udinese youngster Lennon Miller, and Hearts forward James Wilson, all of whom have been recalled to add depth to the roster. Notably absent are Napoli’s Scott McTominay, who is recovering from minor heart surgery, and Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland, sidelined by a hamstring problem.
Torino forward Che Adams is also unavailable due to injury. In total, twelve players who featured at the World Cup are missing from Pocognoli’s inaugural list.
Other omissions comprise Rangers centre‑back John Souttar, Celtic’s Anthony Ralston, Hibernian defender Grant Hanley, Wrexham’s Dominic Hyam, Manchester United’s Tyler Fletcher, Millwall’s Lyndon Dykes, Stoke forward George Hirst and Swansea’s Ross Stewart. Luis Binks, the 25‑year‑old captain of Brondby, will wear the Scotland shirt for the first time at senior level. Although he previously represented Scotland at under‑18 level, he later featured for England’s youth teams before committing to the Scottish senior side. Robbie Ure, a product of the Rangers academy, secured a high‑profile move to La Liga side Sevilla after a prolific spell with Swedish club Sirius, where he scored 20 goals in 20 appearances.
The 22‑year‑old is also eligible to represent Ukraine through a grand‑parental link. Josh McPake’s inclusion rewards his impressive form since joining Hearts from St Johnstone in the summer, while Stephen Welsh arrives after a successful loan at Motherwell from Celtic last season. Celtic defender Colby Donovan, who has featured in every Celtic match this campaign, replaces his teammate Anthony Ralston in the back line.
The full squad list is as follows: Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City) Defenders: Luis Binks (Brondby), 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), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City) Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese) Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon‑Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts) Pocognoli, speaking after the squad reveal, emphasized his focus on the style of play he intends to implement. “The most important thing for me is the style of football I want to see on the pitch,” he said.
“My selections are driven by that vision. I could have named many more players, but I had to make tough choices. Some players miss out because they don’t fit the system, whether due to injury or lack of playing time.” He added, “We have a good mix of experienced campaigners, fresh faces, first‑cap players, young lads and those returning from injury. The goal is to welcome the newcomers, blend them with seasoned professionals, and pass on the DNA, heritage and culture of Scottish football.” Pocognoli concluded, “This is the start of a new chapter, a new book.
What happened before is history; now we build something fresh. It’s a new opportunity for some, a true fresh start for others. From here, it’s about delivering on the pitch and maintaining the right attitude off it as well.” Former Scotland striker James McFadden, speaking to Sky Sports News, praised Ure’s inclusion. “Robbie was on our radar after his standout season in Sweden, but he missed the World Cup squad.
His move to Sevilla proves he can compete at the highest level. Scotland has lacked depth in that position for years, and his bravery in taking an unconventional path deserves respect.” Regarding McBurnie’s recall, McFadden noted, “Oli deserves his chance. He’s faced a lot of criticism lately, but his passion for the national team is evident.
He’s worked hard, improved his game, and now has the chance to stake a claim for the number nine role.” Scotland’s upcoming Nations League schedule includes fixtures against Slovenia on 26 September (2 pm), Switzerland on 29 September (7.45 pm), North Macedonia on 3 October (7.45 pm), a return match with Slovenia on 6 October (7.45 pm), another clash with North Macedonia on 13 November (7.45 pm) and a final encounter with Switzerland on 16 November (7.45 pm). Fans are encouraged to follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest updates, video highlights and in‑depth analysis. The announcement also contains a promotional note inviting supporters to participate in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win a £1 million prize, with free entry available to all participants.