Sebastien Pocognoli, the freshly appointed manager of the Scotland national team, has unveiled his first selection for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, and it features a blend of fresh talent and seasoned campaigners. Among the newcomers earning their first full international caps are Sevilla striker Robbie Ure and Brøndby defender Luis Binks, both of whom have impressed with their club performances and now receive the honor of representing Scotland at senior level.
Joining Ure and Binks are Celtic's versatile right‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake, and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Welsh. Each of these three has earned a place in Pocognoli’s 25‑man roster thanks to consistent displays in domestic competition, and they will be looking to translate that form onto the international stage. The squad also marks the long‑awaited return of Hull City forward Oli McBurnie, who last wore the Scotland shirt in 2021.
After a period of mixed club form and a brief spell out of favour, McBurnie’s recent resurgence in the English Championship has convinced the new coach that he deserves another chance to lead the line for his country. Goalkeeping duties are shared by the experienced Scott Bain and the promising Jon McCracken, both of whom have been called up following the retirement of veteran Craig Gordon after the World Cup.
Their inclusion provides a mix of reliability and youthful energy between the posts. Napoli’s midfield prodigy Billy Gilmour is back after a knee injury forced him to withdraw from Steve Clarke’s final squad. Gilmour’s technical ability and composure on the ball make him a valuable asset in Pocognoli’s plans for a more possession‑oriented style of play.
Stoke City centre‑back Luke Graham, who impressed during Scotland’s pre‑World Cup training camp in May and enjoyed a breakthrough season with Dundee, also makes the list. Graham has been a mainstay for Stoke, featuring in every minute of their recent run that produced three victories and a draw in the last four Championship fixtures. Additional recalls include Sassuolo’s versatile full‑backs Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, Udinese’s promising midfielder Lennon Miller, and Hearts striker James Wilson.
Their inclusion reflects Pocognoli’s desire to broaden the talent pool and reward players who have excelled in Serie A and the Scottish Premiership. Notably absent from the roster are several players still recovering from injury.
Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay is sidelined after undergoing minor heart surgery, while Rangers’ prolific striker Lawrence Shankland misses out due to a hamstring problem. Torino forward Che Adams also remains unavailable because of fitness concerns. Overall, twelve members of the World Cup‑qualified squad are missing from the new manager’s first selection. Among those omitted 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’s Ross Stewart.
Luis Binks, who captains Brøndby in the Danish SuperLiga, is an interesting case. Although he has previously represented Scotland at under‑18 level, he also featured for England’s youth sides before committing his senior allegiance to Scotland. His leadership qualities and defensive versatility are expected to add depth to the back line.
Robbie Ure’s journey to the national team is equally compelling. The former Rangers academy graduate earned a high‑profile transfer to LaLiga side Sevilla after a prolific spell at Swedish club Sirius, where he scored 20 goals in 20 appearances. At 22, Ure is also eligible for Ukraine through a grand‑parent rule, but he has chosen to pursue his international career with Scotland. Josh McPake’s inclusion rewards his impressive form since moving from St Johnstone to Hearts in the summer.
The winger’s pace and creativity have made him a key figure in the Edinburgh side’s attack, and his performances have not gone unnoticed by the national team staff. Stephen Welsh earns his place after a successful loan stint at Motherwell from Celtic last season, where he demonstrated his ability to dictate play from midfield. His experience in the Scottish Premiership will be valuable as Pocognoli seeks to blend youth with seasoned professionals.
Right‑back Colby Donovan has been a regular feature in Celtic’s defensive line this season, and his consistency earned him a call‑up that replaces his club teammate Anthony Ralston, who was left out of the squad. The full list of goalkeepers includes Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers) and Jon McCracken (Bradford City).
Defenders range from Luis Binks (Brøndby) and Josh Doig (Sassuolo) to seasoned internationals such as Andy Robertson (Tottenham) and Kieran Tierney (Celtic). The midfield contingent features Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli) and John McGinn (Aston Villa). Up front, the attacking options comprise 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 emphasized that his primary concern is the style of play he wants the team to exhibit. "For me, the most important thing is the style of play I want to produce on the pitch," he said.
"My focus is to select the players based on that philosophy. I could have extended the list, but I had to make difficult choices.
Many players could have been included, but the final squad reflects the tactical approach we intend to adopt, whether due to injury, form or suitability to the system." He continued, "We have a good mix of experienced heads, fresh faces, first‑cap players, young lads and returning veterans. The most important thing is to welcome the new players, integrate the seasoned ones, and pass on the DNA, heritage and culture of Scottish football. I am starting a new chapter; what happened before is part of the past. Now we have to build something new.
It is a fresh opportunity for some, a real new beginning for others. After that, it’s about showing the right attitude on and off the pitch." Former Scotland striker James McFadden, speaking to Sky Sports News, praised Ure’s rise. "Robbie Ure has been on the radar for his form in Sweden, especially leading up to the World Cup, but he missed out on the squad then. Moving to Sevilla proves he has the ability to compete at the highest level.
Scotland have struggled to generate competition in attack for years, and his inclusion adds that much‑needed depth. Robbie took an unconventional route, and he deserves respect for his bravery in moving abroad and forging his own career path." Regarding McBurnie’s recall, McFadden added, "Oli deserves his opportunity. There’s been some backlash against him over the past few years, but I know how passionate he is about playing for Scotland.
He’s been patient, worked on himself, and now he’s back in the Premier League. Oli is definitely worth a look to see if he can make the number nine shirt his own." Scotland’s upcoming fixtures in the Nations League are set for September and October, with matches against Slovenia, Switzerland, and North Macedonia. The schedule includes: - Slovenia vs Scotland – 26 September, 14:00 GMT - Scotland vs Switzerland – 29 September, 19:45 GMT - North Macedonia vs Scotland – 3 October, 19:45 GMT - Scotland vs Slovenia – 6 October, 19:45 GMT - Scotland vs North Macedonia – 13 November, 19:45 GMT - Switzerland vs Scotland – 16 November, 19:45 GMT Fans can stay updated through Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel for the latest news, video highlights, in‑depth analysis and more.
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