Robbie Ure expressed genuine excitement after his atypical football journey culminated in a call‑up to Sebastien Pocognoli’s first Scotland squad. The 22‑year‑old forward began his development within the Rangers youth system, but limited senior opportunities prompted a bold move abroad to Belgian side Anderlecht in 2023. After a brief stint in Belgium, Ure transferred to Swedish club IK Sirius, where he found the back of the net 31 times in 50 appearances.
His prolific scoring record attracted interest from several European teams during the summer transfer window. Ultimately, he secured a move to LaLiga club Sevilla for an initial fee of £5.5 million last month, a transfer that has now been rewarded with his maiden senior call‑up for Scotland. "At Rangers I didn’t believe I could go further and I needed a step before the step, and Anderlecht was able to give me that," Ure told Sky Sports News.
"Looking back now, it’s clear that it was the right decision to make. It’s a bit unusual for a Scottish player to take that route.
A lot of people think it’s only happened in the last four weeks, but for me it’s been three years of hard work, moving to different countries and trying to get that opportunity. It’s been a long road but an enjoyable one. I did think there would be opportunities with the new manager.
I’m happy to be involved in his first camp and hope I can show him what I can do." Pocognoli’s Scotland side represents a significant overhaul, with twelve members of Steve Clarke’s World Cup‑ending squad omitted. Notably, none of the forwards who have been plying their trade in the United States made the list, leaving a clear opening for Ure to stake his claim. "We need to bring fresh energy, hard work and try to play the way the new boss wants us to play," the young striker added.
"For the forwards, the obvious goal is to score, but there’s more to it. We’re trying to gather as much information and playing time as possible to fully implement the new manager’s ideas." The Pocognoli era officially kicks off in Ljubljana on Saturday, with Scotland set to face Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later.
After that, the squad will travel to North Macedonia on 3 October before returning to Glasgow for a second encounter with Slovenia on 6 October. Scotland’s recent demotion from Nations League A after a play‑off loss to Greece last year means they will compete in the second tier of this year’s competition. "He wants us to play intelligent football, identify the spaces, stay compact and many other nuances. It’s early, and as the weeks progress you’ll see more of what he’s trying to instill," Ure explained.
The full squad list includes: Goalkeepers – Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City). Defenders – 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), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City).
Midfielders – Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese), Kristie Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers). Forwards – Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon‑Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts). Fans can stay updated via Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest news, video highlights, analysis and more.
Upcoming fixtures are: Slovenia vs Scotland – 26 September, 14:00; Scotland vs Switzerland – 29 September, 19:45; North Macedonia vs Scotland – 3 October, 19:45; Scotland vs Slovenia – 6 October, 19:45; Scotland vs North Macedonia – 13 November, 19:45; Switzerland vs Scotland – 16 November, 19:45. Additionally, a Super 6 competition offers a chance to win £1 million, with free entry available for participants.