'Scotland has always been my choice' – Binks expresses pride at his maiden senior call‑up

Luis Binks, the 25‑year‑old centre‑back who captains Brøndby IF, has finally received the senior Scotland jersey he has long coveted. The defender, who previously represented both England and Scotland at under‑21 level, said he never needed any persuasion when new national team boss Sébastien Pocognoli invited him to join the squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures. "I’ve wanted to play for Scotland for years, and now the opportunity has come.

I’m just really proud," Binks told Sky Sports News, his voice tinged with genuine excitement. The call‑up marks Binks’ first full senior selection, placing him among six newcomers who will travel to face Slovenia, North Macedonia and Switzerland in the competition.

Pocognoli, who took over the Scotland helm after Steve Clarke’s tenure ended, has made it clear he will not pressure dual‑eligible players to pick the Scottish side. Binks echoed that sentiment, explaining that any attempt to convince him would have been unnecessary.

"If he had to try and convince me, or anyone, it’s probably not the right thing for the player," the defender said. "I didn’t need any convincing; I was available. I wanted to play for Scotland. I’ve wanted to play for Scotland for years and now the opportunity has come, I’m just really proud." For Binks, the decision is as much about heart as it is about career.

"It’s where you feel your heart is and where you want to go. This was the route I wanted to take," he added, underscoring that his allegiance has always leaned toward the Tartan Army.

Scotland’s squad under Pocognoli is a fresh mix of talent. Twelve players who featured in Steve Clarke’s final World Cup roster are absent, with only Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams missing due to injury.

Yet Binks will find some familiar faces in the camp, which should ease his transition. He recalled a previous moment when teammate Aaron Hickey received a senior call‑up while they were both in Bologna.

"It was a few years ago that I was with Aaron Hickey in Bologna and he got called up while we were there," Binks remembered. "I could play for the under‑21s at the time and nothing ever came up, but Scotland was always the one for me that I wanted to go and play for." Binks reflected on his early experiences with the Scottish youth set‑up, describing them as a formative period that cemented his desire to represent the nation at senior level. "Going back years ago, under‑16s when I went away with Scotland, the vibe was just so good.

It felt like a proper team, it was just normal lads and you felt like you were playing with your mates, so I knew there was always that feeling around it. I wanted to go and be a part of that again," he said.

The new era under Pocognoli kicks off in Ljubljana on Saturday, with a friendly against Switzerland scheduled for Hampden Park three days later. The squad will then travel to Skopje for the North Macedonia clash on October 3, before returning to Glasgow for a second meeting with Slovenia on October 6. Scotland are currently competing in Nations League B after a play‑off loss to Greece saw them drop from the top tier last season, and they are eager to regain a place in League A. "Obviously we want to get to the A group of the Nations League but there are a lot of new faces, a lot of new management, new ways of playing," Binks observed.

He drew a parallel between the national team’s transition and his own club situation, noting that he too is adapting to a new manager at Brøndby. "I know what it’s like because I’ve got a new manager at my club now and it’s taking a bit of time, so I imagine it’s the same sort of process here. It’s just about getting the players on board and buying into everything the manager wants to do. It’s been early days, but I think everyone is fully on board and believes in what we can do as a country." The full Scotland squad for the Nations League window 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 follow the latest updates via Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel, which provides news, video highlights, analysis and more.

The upcoming fixtures are slated as follows: Slovenia vs Scotland on 26 September at 14:00, Scotland vs Switzerland on 29 September at 19:45, North Macedonia vs Scotland on 3 October at 19:45, and Scotland vs Slovenia on 6 October at 19:45, with additional matches in November. The excitement surrounding Binks’ debut reflects a broader optimism that the new generation, guided by Pocognoli’s vision, can restore Scotland to the top tier of European football.