Sebastien Pocognoli, the freshly appointed manager of the Scotland national team, has unveiled his first selection, introducing five newcomers to the senior side. Among the debutants are Sevilla striker Robbie Ure and Brondby defender Luis Binks, who join a group that also features Celtic full‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Welsh.
All five have earned their first full‑international call‑up for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. The squad also marks the long‑awaited return of Hull City forward Oli McBurnie, who has not worn the Scotland jersey since 2021. Goalkeepers Scott Bain and Jon McCracken have been recalled after veteran Craig Gordon announced his retirement following the World Cup, providing fresh options between the posts. Napoli’s promising youngster Billy Gilmour is back in the fold after a knee injury forced him to pull 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 been added. The Stoke City centre‑back, a three‑time under‑21 international, has been a key figure for his club, featuring every minute as they secured 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. Their inclusion reflects Pocognoli’s desire to blend experience with fresh talent as he builds a squad capable of executing his tactical vision.
However, some notable absences are unavoidable. Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay is sidelined while recovering from a minor heart operation, and Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland misses out due to a hamstring problem. Torino forward Che Adams is also unavailable through injury. In total, twelve players who featured at the World Cup have been omitted from the Belgian‑born coach’s inaugural list.
Other notable 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 striker Ross Stewart. Luis Binks, the 25‑year‑old captain of Danish SuperLiga side Brondby, is a particularly interesting case.
He represented Scotland at under‑18 level before switching allegiance to England’s youth teams, making him eligible for both nations. Robbie Ure, a product of the Rangers academy, secured a high‑profile transfer to LaLiga side Sevilla after an outstanding spell with Swedish club Sirius, where he netted an impressive 20 goals in as many games.
Ure also qualifies for Ukraine through a grand‑parental link. Josh McPake has earned his place thanks to a strong start at Hearts following his summer move from St Johnstone, while Stephen Welsh earned his call‑up after a productive loan at Motherwell from Celtic last season.
Colby Donovan, a right‑back who has featured in every Celtic match this campaign, replaces his teammate Anthony Ralston in the defensive line‑up. The full roster of goalkeepers includes Scott Bain (formerly of Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers) and Jon McCracken (Bradford City). The defensive contingent features 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) 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, Pocognoli has opted for 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, Pocognoli emphasized that his primary concern is the style of play he wishes to instill. "For me, the most important thing is the style of football I want to produce on the pitch," he said.
"My selections have been guided by that principle. I could have named many more players, but I had to make tough choices. Some were left out because they do not fit the system, others because of injuries or lack of playing time." He added, "I believe we have a good blend of seasoned campaigners, fresh faces, first‑cap players, and young talents returning to the fold.
The aim is to welcome the newcomers, integrate the experienced squad members, and pass on the DNA, heritage and culture of Scottish football. This is the start of a new chapter – a new book. What happened before is part of the past; now we must build something new." Former Scotland striker James McFadden, speaking to Sky Sports News, praised Ure’s inclusion.
"Robbie Ure has been on our radar for a while, especially after his prolific season in Sweden. Securing a move to Sevilla proves he can compete at the highest level. Scotland has struggled for depth in certain positions, and his arrival adds healthy competition," McFadden noted.
He also defended McBurnie’s recall, saying, "Oli deserves this chance. There has been some backlash against him in recent years, but his passion for wearing the Scotland shirt is evident.
He’s worked hard, returned to the Premier League, and now has the opportunity to stake his claim for the number nine role." The upcoming fixtures will test Pocognoli’s ideas. Scotland face Slovenia on September 26 at 2 pm, then travel to Switzerland on September 29 for a 7.45 pm kick‑off. A match against North Macedonia follows on October 3 at 7.45 pm, with a return clash versus Slovenia on October 6 at the same time.
The calendar concludes with two November games: against North Macedonia on the 13th and Switzerland on the 16th, both at 7.45 pm. Fans are encouraged to follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for real‑time updates, video highlights, analysis and more. In summary, Pocognoli’s inaugural Scotland squad blends youthful exuberance with seasoned professionalism, aiming to forge a cohesive unit capable of executing a clear tactical identity.
The inclusion of five first‑time internationals—Ure, Binks, Donovan, McPake and Welsh—signals a willingness to refresh the roster, while the return of established players like McBurnie and Gilmour provides a solid foundation. The next few months will reveal whether this blend can translate into competitive performances on the international stage.