Robbie Ure, the forward who recently joined Sevilla after a prolific spell in Sweden, and Luis Binks, a defender for Brøndby, are two of the five newcomers who have earned their first full international caps under new Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli. The other three debutants are Celtic centre‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Welsh, all of whom have been selected for the upcoming Nations League fixtures.
The squad also sees the long‑awaited return of Hull City striker Oli McBurnie, who last featured for Scotland in 2021, and the reinstatement of goalkeepers Scott Bain and Jon McCracken after veteran Craig Gordon announced his retirement following the World Cup. Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour is back in the mix after a knee injury forced him to withdraw from 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 earned a place as well. The Stoke City defender, a three‑time under‑21 international, has been an ever‑present figure as the Potters recorded three wins and a draw in their last four Championship matches.
Additional recalls include Sassuolo duo Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller, and Hearts forward James Wilson. Notably absent are Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who is recovering from minor heart surgery, Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland, who is dealing with a hamstring problem, and Torino forward Che Adams, who is also sidelined. Twelve players who featured at the World Cup are missing from Pocognoli’s first selection. Among those left out are Rangers centre‑back John Souttar, Celtic’s Anthony Ralston, Hibernian defender 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 Brøndby in the Danish SuperLiga, is a 25‑year‑old who previously represented Scotland at under‑18 level before switching allegiance to England’s youth teams. Ure, a former Rangers academy product, secured a high‑profile move to LaLiga side Sevilla after scoring 20 goals in 20 games for Swedish club Sirius. He is also eligible to play for Ukraine through a grand‑parental link.
McPake’s inclusion rewards his strong form since moving from St Johnstone to Hearts this summer, while Welsh earns a call‑up after a successful loan spell at Motherwell from Celtic last season. Donovan, a right‑back who has featured in every Celtic match this term, replaces his club‑mate Ralston in the back line. The full list of goalkeepers named by Pocognoli includes Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers) and Jon McCracken (Bradford City).
Defenders selected are 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). In midfield, Pocognoli chose Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Josh McPake (Hearts) and Lennon Miller (Udinese).
The attacking line features Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon‑Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla) and James Wilson (Hearts). Speaking after the announcement, the Belgian‑born manager explained his philosophy: "The most important thing for me is the style of play I want to see on the pitch. My selections are driven by that vision.
I could have added many more names, 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.
I believe we have a good blend of experienced heads, fresh faces, first‑cap newcomers, young talent and returning veterans. The goal is to welcome the new players, retain the seasoned ones, and pass on the DNA, heritage and culture of Scottish football. This is the start of a new chapter; what happened before is history. Now we build something new.
It's a fresh opportunity for some and a true new beginning for others. From here, we must deliver on the field and maintain 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 impressive season in Sweden, but he missed out on the World Cup squad. His move to Sevilla proves he can compete at the highest level.
Scotland have struggled to generate competition in attack for years, and Robbie’s unconventional path shows his bravery and determination. He deserves respect for forging his career abroad and focusing on his development." Regarding McBurnie's recall, McFadden added: "Oli deserves this chance. He's faced criticism over the past few years, but his passion for wearing the Scotland shirt is evident.
He's been patient, worked hard away from the limelight, and now he's back in the Premier League. Oli can certainly stake a claim for the number nine role." Scotland’s upcoming fixtures in the Nations League are set for September and October, with matches against Slovenia, Switzerland and North Macedonia. Fans can follow the latest updates, video highlights and analysis via Sky Sports' WhatsApp channel, and even enter the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £1 million.