Sebastien Pocognoli, the new manager of the Scotland national team, has unveiled his first selection, and it features a blend of seasoned internationals and five newcomers receiving their maiden full caps. Among the debutants are Sevilla striker Robbie Ure and Danish SuperLiga defender Luis Binks, who captains Brøndby.
The list also includes Celtic's versatile full‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake, and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Welsh, all of whom have been handed their first senior call‑ups for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. The squad also marks the long‑awaited return of Hull City’s striker Oli McBurnie, who last represented Scotland in 2021. His recall follows a strong season in the English Championship and a renewed determination to cement a place in the national attack. In goal, veteran keepers Scott Bain and Jon McCracken have been reinstated after the retirement of long‑time custodian Craig Gordon following the World Cup.
Midfield sees the comeback of Napoli’s promising Billy Gilmour, who missed Steve Clarke’s final squad due to a knee injury earlier in the year. Luke Graham, who impressed during Scotland’s pre‑World Cup training camp in May after a breakthrough campaign with Dundee, also makes the cut.
The Stoke City defender has been a regular for the Potters, featuring in every minute of their recent run that produced three wins and a draw in the last four Championship matches. Additional recall names include Sassuolo duo Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, Udinese’s young prospect Lennon Miller, and Hearts forward James Wilson. Notably absent are Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who is recovering from minor heart surgery, and Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland, sidelined with a hamstring injury. Torino forward Che Adams also remains out with fitness concerns.
Overall, twelve players who featured at the World Cup are missing from Pocognoli’s inaugural roster. The omissions include Rangers centre‑back John Souttar, Celtic’s Anthony Ralston, Hibernian defender Grant Hanley, Wrexham’s Dominic Hyam, Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher, Millwall’s Lyndon Dykes, Stoke forward George Hirst, and Swansea’s Ross Stewart. Luis Binks, the 25‑year‑old Brøndby captain, brings a unique international background.
He represented Scotland at under‑18 level before switching allegiance to England’s youth teams, and now returns to the senior Scottish side. Robbie Ure, a product of the Rangers academy, secured a high‑profile transfer to LaLiga side Sevilla after a prolific spell at Swedish club Sirius, where he scored 20 goals in as many games.
At 22, Ure is also eligible for Ukraine through a grandparent, adding an intriguing eligibility dimension to his international future. Josh McPake earned his place thanks to impressive performances after moving from St Johnstone to Hearts in the summer. His pace and creativity on the wing have been a key factor in Hearts’ attacking play.
Stephen Welsh, meanwhile, arrives after a successful loan at Motherwell from Celtic, where he demonstrated his ability to dictate play from midfield. Right‑back Colby Donovan has been a mainstay in Celtic’s back line this season, earning a call‑up at the expense of his teammate Anthony Ralston. The defensive department also features a mix of experience and youth: Luis Binks (Brøndby), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), 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).
The midfield roster includes 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 forwards are Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon‑Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla) and James Wilson (Hearts).
Pocognoli explained his selection philosophy after announcing the squad: "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 added many more names, but I had to make difficult decisions. Some players were left out due to injuries or lack of playing time, but primarily it was about the system we intend to play." He continued, "I believe we have a good balance of experienced campaigners, fresh faces, first‑cap players, young talent, and those returning from injury.
Welcoming the new players, integrating the veterans, and passing on the national team DNA, heritage and culture is essential. This is the start of a new chapter. What happened before is history; now we have to build something new. It's a fresh opportunity for some, a real new beginning for others.
The aim is to perform 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 Ure has been on our radar ever since his impressive season in Sweden before the World Cup, even though he missed the final squad. His move to Sevilla shows he can compete at the highest level.
Scotland has struggled to produce quality forwards for years, and his arrival adds much‑needed competition." McFadden also defended McBurnie’s recall, noting the criticism the striker has faced: "Oli deserves this chance. There’s been a lot of backlash against him over the past few years, but he’s always been passionate about wearing the Scotland shirt.
He’s been patient, worked hard away from home, and now he’s back in the Premier League. He definitely deserves a look to see if he can claim the number nine role for us." The upcoming fixtures for Pocognoli’s side include a Nations League clash with Slovenia on 26 September at 14:00, followed by a match against Switzerland on 29 September at 19:45. The schedule continues with games against North Macedonia on 3 October (19:45), a return fixture with Slovenia on 6 October (19:45), another encounter with North Macedonia on 13 November (19:45), and a final showdown with Switzerland on 16 November (19:45).
Fans are encouraged to follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest updates, video highlights, in‑depth analysis and more. In summary, Sebastien Pocognoli’s first Scotland squad is a carefully curated blend of proven internationals and promising newcomers, selected to embody a specific playing philosophy.
The inclusion of five debutants—Robbie Ure, Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh—signals a willingness to inject fresh talent while maintaining a core of experienced players. With several World Cup veterans omitted and key injuries still affecting the roster, the upcoming Nations League matches will serve as a crucial testing ground for Pocognoli’s ideas and for the new faces eager to make their mark on the international stage.