Sebastien Pocognoli, the freshly appointed manager of the Scotland national team, has unveiled his first selection, and it features a notable influx of fresh talent. Among the newcomers are Sevilla forward Robbie Ure and Danish SuperLiga defender Luis Binks of Brondby, both earning their first full international caps under the new coach. Alongside them, Celtic centre‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Welsh have also been handed their debut call‑ups for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
The squad also marks the long‑awaited return of Hull City striker Oli McBurnie, who last represented Scotland in 2021. Goalkeeping duties will be shared by the experienced Scott Bain and the promising Jon McCracken, who step in after veteran Craig Gordon announced his retirement following the World Cup. Napoli’s 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 secured a place. The Stoke City defender, a three‑time under‑21 international, has been a key figure in his club’s recent run of three wins and a draw across four Championship matches. Additional recalls include Sassuolo’s versatile full‑back Josh Doig and striker Kieron Bowie, Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller, and Hearts attacker James Wilson. Notably absent are Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who is recovering from minor heart surgery, Rangers forward Lawrence Shankland, who is nursing a hamstring strain, and Torino forward Che Adams, who remains injured.
In total, twelve players who featured at the World Cup are missing from Pocognoli’s inaugural list. The omissions also encompass 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’s George Hirst and Swansea’s Ross Stewart. Luis Binks, the 25‑year‑old Brondby captain, brings a unique background: he represented Scotland at under‑18 level before switching allegiance to England’s youth teams. Robbie Ure, a product of the Rangers academy, secured a high‑profile transfer to La Liga side Sevilla after a prolific spell at Swedish club Sirius, where he scored 20 goals in as many games.
Ure also qualifies for Ukraine through a grand‑parent rule, adding another layer to his international eligibility. Josh McPake’s inclusion rewards his impressive form since moving to Hearts from St Johnstone in the summer, while Stephen Welsh arrives after a successful loan at Motherwell from Celtic last season. Right‑back Colby Donovan, a regular starter for Celtic this term, replaces his teammate Anthony Ralston in the back line.
The full roster, as announced, 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 explained his selection philosophy after unveiling the list: "The most important factor for me is the style of play I want to implement on the pitch. My focus has been to choose players who fit that vision.
I could have named many more, but I had to make tough decisions based on how each player suits the system, their injury status and recent playing time. We have a balanced mix of seasoned internationals, fresh faces, first‑cap players, young prospects and those returning from injury. The aim is to welcome the newcomers, preserve the DNA, heritage and culture of Scottish football, and start a new chapter. What happened before is part of the past; now we build something new.
It's a fresh opportunity for some and a new beginning for others. From there, it’s about performing on the field and maintaining the right attitude both on and off the pitch." Former Scotland striker James McFadden, speaking to Sky Sports News, praised Ure’s rise: "Robbie was on our radar after his standout season in Sweden before the World Cup, but he missed the final squad. His move to Sevilla proves he can compete at the highest level.
Scotland has struggled to generate competition in that position for years, and Robbie’s unconventional path shows his bravery and determination. He deserves respect for carving his own route and focusing on his development." McFadden also defended Oli McBurnie's recall, noting the striker’s resilience: "Oli deserves this chance. There’s been some backlash against him over the past few years, but his passion for wearing the Scotland shirt is evident. He’s been patient, worked hard away from home, and now that he’s back in the Premier League, he’s ready to fight for the number nine role." The upcoming international calendar features several Nations League matches: Slovenia versus Scotland on 26 September (kick‑off 14:00), Scotland versus Switzerland on 29 September (19:45), North Macedonia versus Scotland on 3 October (19:45), Scotland versus Slovenia on 6 October (19:45), Scotland versus North Macedonia on 13 November (19:45) and Switzerland versus Scotland on 16 November (19:45).
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