Robbie Ure, the Sevilla forward, and Luis Binks from Brøndby have secured spots among five newcomers receiving their first full senior call‑up under new manager Sebastien Pocognoli. The selection also features Celtic centre‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City defender Stephen Welsh, all slated to join the squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. In addition, Hull City striker Oli McBurnie makes a long‑awaited return to the national team after his last appearance in 2021, while veteran goalkeepers Scott Bain and Jon McCracken are back in the fold following Craig Gordon’s retirement after the World Cup. Napoli’s Billy Gilmour has also been recalled after a knee injury forced him out of Steve Clarke’s final squad.
Luke Graham earns a place after impressing in Scotland’s pre‑World Cup training camp in May and enjoying a breakthrough season with Dundee. The Stoke City defender, who has already earned three caps at under‑21 level, has been an ever‑present figure as Stoke recorded three wins and a draw in their last four Championship outings. Further additions include Sassuolo duo Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller, and Hearts attacker James Wilson, all of whom have been summoned back to the national pool.
Notably absent are Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, who is recovering from a minor heart operation, and Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland, sidelined by a hamstring injury. Torino forward Che Adams also misses out due to fitness concerns. In total, twelve players who featured at the World Cup are omitted from Pocognoli’s debut roster. Other notable exclusions 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 Danish Superliga side Brøndby, 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 La Liga side Sevilla after a prolific spell at Swedish club Sirius, where he scored 20 goals in as many games. The 22‑year‑old is also eligible for Ukraine through a grand‑parental link. McPake has been rewarded for his strong performances since joining Hearts from St Johnstone in the summer, while Welsh’s inclusion follows a successful loan at Motherwell from Celtic last season.
Right‑back Donovan has featured in every Celtic match this campaign and replaces his club‑mate Ralston in the national setup. Goalkeepers named in the squad are Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers) and Jon McCracken (Bradford City).
The defensive line‑up 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) and Kieran Tierney (Celtic), with Stephen Welsh (Swansea City) rounding out the back. 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, the forwards are Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon‑Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla) and James Wilson (Hearts). After announcing the squad, Pocognoli explained his philosophy: “The most important factor 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 players are omitted because they don’t fit the system, others because of injuries or lack of game time.
I believe we have a balanced mix of seasoned internationals, fresh faces, first‑cap players, young talent and returning veterans. The goal is to welcome the newcomers, retain the experience, pass on the DNA, heritage and culture, and start a new chapter.
What has happened before is history; now we build something new. It’s a fresh opportunity for some and a new beginning for others. Ultimately, it’s about delivering on the field with the right attitude both on and off the pitch.” Former Scotland striker James McFadden, speaking to Sky Sports News, praised Ure’s inclusion: “Robbie was on our radar after his impressive spell in Sweden before the World Cup, but he missed out then.
His move to Sevilla shows he can compete at the highest level. Scotland has struggled for depth in that position for years, and his breakthrough provides healthy competition. Robbie took an unconventional path, moving abroad and carving out his own career. He deserves respect for his bravery and dedication.” Regarding McBurnie’s recall, McFadden added: “Oli certainly deserves this chance.
There’s been some backlash against him over the past few years, but his passion for wearing the Scotland shirt is evident. He’s been patient, worked hard away from home, and now back in the Premier League, he’s ready to fight for the number nine role.” The revised schedule for Scotland’s Nations League campaign includes fixtures against Slovenia on 26 September (2 pm), Switzerland on 29 September (7:45 pm), North Macedonia on 3 October (7:45 pm), a return match with Slovenia on 6 October (7:45 pm), another clash with North Macedonia on 13 November (7:45 pm) and a final showdown with Switzerland on 16 November (7:45 pm).
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