Robbie Ure expressed genuine excitement after his atypical football journey culminated in a place on Sebastien Pocognoli's inaugural Scotland squad. The 22‑year‑old forward began his development within the Rangers youth system, but limited opportunities to break into the first team prompted a bold move abroad to Belgian side Anderlecht in 2023. After a brief stint in Belgium, Ure transferred to Swedish outfit IK Sirius, where he enjoyed a prolific spell, netting 31 goals in 50 appearances.
His scoring exploits attracted interest from a range of clubs across the continent, and in the summer he secured a transfer to LaLiga club Sevilla for an initial fee of £5.5 million. The rapid progression of his career was rewarded with his first senior call‑up to the Scotland national team. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Ure reflected on his decision to leave Rangers: "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.
Looking back now, it's clear that it was the right decision to make." He acknowledged that his route is unusual for a Scottish player. "A lot of people think it's only happened in the last four weeks, but for me it's been three years of working hard and moving to different countries and trying to get that opportunity. It's been quite long but it's been enjoyable," he said.
Ure also noted his optimism about the new manager's plans, adding, "I did think there would be opportunities with the new gaffer. I'm happy to be involved in his first camp and hopefully I can show him what I can do." Pocognoli's first‑team selection marks a significant shift for Scotland, as twelve members of Steve Clarke's World Cup‑ending squad were omitted. Notably, none of the forwards who ventured to Major League Soccer made the list, opening a window for Ure to prove himself at the highest level.
"We need to bring a fresh energy, hard work as well and try and play how the new gaffer wants us to play," Ure explained. "For the strikers, the obvious one is we want to score goals. But there's more than that, and we're trying to get as much information and time on the pitch as we can to really implement how the new gaffer wants us to play." The Pocognoli era officially kicks off in Ljubljana on Saturday, with Scotland set to face Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later.
After that fixture, 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 relegation from Nations League A after a play‑off loss to Greece means they will compete in the second tier of this year’s competition.
Ure described the tactical philosophy he expects under Pocognoli: "He wants us to play smart football, identify where the spaces are and be close together as well and a lot more things. It's early, and I think as this week and next week go by you'll probably be able to see a little bit more of what he's trying to get across." The full Scotland squad for the upcoming internationals 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 through Sky Sports' WhatsApp channel for the latest news, video highlights, analysis and more. The upcoming match schedule is 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, Scotland vs Slovenia on 6 October at 19:45, Scotland vs North Macedonia on 13 November at 19:45, and Switzerland vs Scotland on 16 November at 19:45.
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