Robbie Ure, the forward who recently moved from Swedish side Sirius to LaLiga club Sevilla, and Luis Binks, the Brondby defender, are two of five players who have earned their first full Scotland caps under the direction of new manager Sebastien Pocognoli. The squad, announced for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, also features Celtic centre‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Welsh, each making their debut at senior level. The list also marks the long‑awaited return of Hull City striker Oli McBurnie, who has not featured for the national team since 2021.
Goalkeepers Scott Bain and Jon McCracken are back in the fold after veteran Craig Gordon announced his retirement following the World Cup campaign. Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour is also reinstated 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 earned a place in the 25‑man group.
The 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 matches. Additional call‑ups include Sassuolo duo Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller, and Hearts forward James Wilson, all of whom have been recalled to add depth and competition. Notably absent are Napoli’s Scott McTominay, who is recovering from minor heart surgery, Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland, sidelined with a hamstring problem, and Torino forward Che Adams, who is also injured.
Overall, 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’s Dominic Hyam, Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher, Millwall’s Lyndon Dykes, Stoke forward George Hirst and Swansea striker Ross Stewart. Binks, who captains Danish SuperLiga side Brondby, is 25 and has previously represented Scotland at under‑18 level before switching allegiance to England’s youth teams.
Ure, a product of the Rangers academy, earned a high‑profile move to Sevilla after a prolific spell at Sirius, where he scored 20 goals in as many games. He also qualifies for Ukraine through a grand‑parent rule. McPake has justified his selection with strong performances since joining Hearts from St Johnstone this summer, while Welsh’s inclusion follows a successful loan stint at Motherwell last season.
Donovan, a right‑back, has featured in every Celtic match this campaign and replaces his teammate Ralston in the back line. The full squad breakdown 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 addressed the media after unveiling his roster, emphasizing 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 tough choices.
Some were left out due to injuries, others because they didn't fit the system I envision." He continued, "We have a balanced mix of seasoned internationals, fresh faces, first‑cap players and those returning from injury. The goal is to integrate new talent while preserving the DNA, heritage and culture of Scottish football. This is the start of a new chapter; what happened before is history, and now we build something new.
It's an opportunity for some, a fresh start for others, and we must translate that into the right attitude both on and off the field." Former Scotland striker James McFadden, speaking to Sky Sports News, praised Ure’s inclusion: "Robbie has been on our radar for a while, especially after his standout season in Sweden. His move to Sevilla proves he can compete at a high level.
Scotland has lacked depth in the forward positions for years, and his unconventional path shows his bravery and determination." Regarding McBurnie's recall, McFadden added, "Oli deserves his chance. He's faced criticism over the past few years, but his passion for wearing the Scotland shirt is undeniable. He's worked hard, regained form in the Premier League, and now has the chance to stake his claim as the number nine." The Nations League schedule sees Scotland facing Slovenia on 26 September at 14:00, Switzerland on 29 September at 19:45, North Macedonia on 3 October at 19:45, a return fixture against Slovenia on 6 October at 19:45, another match versus North Macedonia on 13 November at 19:45, and finally Switzerland again on 16 November at 19:45.
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