Robbie Ure, the forward who recently joined Sevilla after a prolific spell in Sweden, and Luis Binks, the Brøndby defender, are two of the five players who have earned their first full senior call‑up under new Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli. The other newcomers are Celtic full‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City centre‑half Stephen Welsh, all of whom have been selected for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures.
The squad also sees the long‑awaited return of Hull City striker Oli McBurnie, who has not featured for the national side since 2021. Goalkeeper Scott Bain and backup keeper Jon McCracken are back in the mix after veteran Craig Gordon announced his retirement following the World Cup campaign. Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour is included 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 place. Graham, a Stoke City defender, has already accumulated three caps at under‑21 level and has been an ever‑present figure as the Potters secured three wins and a draw in their last four Championship outings.
Other recalls include Sassuolo duo Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller, and Hearts attacker James Wilson. Notably absent are Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who is recovering from a minor heart operation, Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland, who is nursing a hamstring problem, and Torino forward Che Adams, who remains injured. Overall, twelve members of the World Cup‑bound group are missing from Pocognoli’s first selection. Among those omitted are 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.
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 product of the Rangers academy, secured a high‑profile move to LaLiga side Sevilla after an eye‑catching stint with Swedish club Sirius, where he scored 20 goals in as many games. The 22‑year‑old is also eligible to play for Ukraine through a grand‑parental link.
McPake’s inclusion rewards his impressive form since swapping St Johnstone for Hearts in the summer, while Welsh arrives after a successful loan spell at Motherwell from Celtic last season. Donovan, who has featured in every Celtic match this term, replaces his teammate Ralston in the defensive line‑up.
The full list of goalkeepers named by Pocognoli comprises Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers) and Jon McCracken (Bradford City). The defensive corps includes 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). Midfield selections feature 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).
Speaking after the announcement, Pocognoli explained his philosophy: “The most important thing for me is the style of play I want to see on the pitch. My selections have been guided by that principle.
I could have named many more players, but I had to make choices based on how they fit into the system, their fitness and recent playing time. I think we have a balanced mix of experienced campaigners, fresh faces, first‑cap players and those returning from injury.
It’s about welcoming the newcomers, preserving the DNA and heritage of Scottish football, and starting a new chapter. The past is behind us; now we build something new. It’s a fresh opportunity for some and a new beginning for others.
The key is to show the right attitude both on and off the field.” 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, but he missed out on 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 inclusion adds healthy competition.
Robbie has taken an unconventional route, and his bravery in moving abroad and forging his own path deserves respect.” Regarding McBurnie’s recall, McFadden added: “Oli certainly deserves his chance. He’s faced a lot of criticism over the past few years, but his passion for wearing the Scotland shirt has never wavered. He’s been patient, worked hard on himself, and now back in the Premier League, he’s ready to fight for the number nine role.” Scotland’s upcoming fixtures in the Nations League are listed as follows: Slovenia versus Scotland on 26 September at 14:00, Scotland versus Switzerland on 29 September at 19:45, North Macedonia versus Scotland on 3 October at 19:45, Scotland versus Slovenia on 6 October at 19:45, Scotland versus North Macedonia on 13 November at 19:45, and Switzerland versus Scotland on 16 November at 19:45.
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