Sebastien Pocognoli, the newly appointed manager of the Scotland national team, has unveiled his first selection for the upcoming Nations League fixtures, and the list features a blend of fresh talent and seasoned campaigners. Among the newcomers earning their first senior caps are Sevilla forward Robbie Ure and Brøndby defender Luis Binks, both of whom have impressed at club level and are now poised to make their debuts for the Scottish side.
Joining Ure and Binks are Celtic centre‑back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City midfielder Stephen Welsh. Each of these players has earned a call‑up based on recent form, and they will add depth to a squad that is undergoing a tactical overhaul under Pocognoli's guidance.
One of the most talked‑about inclusions is Hull City striker Oli McBurnie, who returns to the national team after a long absence; his previous appearance came back in 2021. McBurnie's recall signals that the coaching staff believes he still has a valuable role to play in Scotland's attacking options.
In goal, the experienced Scott Bain and the promising Jon McCracken have been retained following the retirement of veteran Craig Gordon after the World Cup campaign. Their presence provides a reliable backbone between the sticks as Scotland looks to rebuild. Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour also makes a comeback after a knee injury forced him out of Steve Clarke's final squad.
Gilmour’s technical ability and vision will be crucial as Pocognoli seeks to implement a more possession‑oriented style. Luke Graham, who impressed during Scotland's pre‑World Cup training camp in May after a breakout season with Dundee, has earned a place in the 26‑man roster.
The Stoke City defender, who has already earned three caps at under‑21 level, has been a constant figure in his club's recent run of three wins and a draw in the last four Championship fixtures. Additional recallees include Sassuolo duo Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller, and Hearts forward James Wilson. Their inclusion reflects a desire to broaden the pool of players with experience in top European leagues.
However, not everyone is fit for selection. Napoli’s Scott McTominay is sidelined while recovering from minor heart surgery, Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland is out with a hamstring problem, and Torino forward Che Adams remains injured. In total, twelve members of the World Cup‑qualified squad are missing from Pocognoli's inaugural list.
Other notable absences are Rangers centre‑back John Souttar, Celtic midfielder 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. Their omission underscores the new manager's emphasis on a specific playing philosophy rather than simply rewarding past appearances. Luis Binks, the 25‑year‑old captain of Danish SuperLiga side Brøndby, brings leadership qualities despite his relatively young age.
He previously represented Scotland at under‑18 level before switching allegiance to England at youth level, making his senior debut for Scotland a notable narrative. Robbie Ure, a product of the Rangers academy, secured a high‑profile transfer to LaLiga side Sevilla after a prolific spell at Swedish club Sirius, where he scored 20 goals in as many games. At 22, Ure is also eligible to represent Ukraine through his grandparents, adding an intriguing dual‑nationality dimension to his profile.
Josh McPake earned his call‑up thanks to an impressive run of form since moving from St Johnstone to Hearts in the summer. His pace and creativity on the wing have made him a standout in the Scottish Premiership. Stephen Welsh, meanwhile, was rewarded for a successful loan stint at Motherwell from Celtic last season, demonstrating his readiness for senior international duty. Right‑back Colby Donovan has been a regular starter for Celtic this season, appearing in every league match and now replaces his club teammate Anthony Ralston in the national squad.
The full goalkeeper roster includes Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers) and Jon McCracken (Bradford City). The defensive line features 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), Kieran Tierney (Celtic) and Stephen Welsh (Swansea City). 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 attackers are Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon‑Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla) and James Wilson (Hearts). Pocognoli addressed the media after announcing his squad, emphasizing his tactical priorities: "The most important factor for me is the style of play I want to see on the pitch.
My selections have been driven by that vision. I could have named many more players, but I had to make tough choices based on how they fit our system, injury status and recent playing time." He continued, "We have a balanced mix of experienced campaigners, fresh faces, first‑cap players and those returning from injury. The goal is to integrate new talent while preserving the DNA, heritage and culture of Scottish football.
This is a new chapter – a fresh book – and what happened before is part of the past. Now we build something new." Former Scotland striker James McFadden, speaking to Sky Sports News, praised the inclusion of Robbie Ure: "Ure has been on our radar for a while, especially after his standout season in Sweden before the World Cup.
His move to Sevilla shows he can compete at the highest level. Scotland has lacked depth in that position for years, and his unconventional path – moving abroad, taking risks – deserves respect." Regarding Oli McBurnie's recall, McFadden added, "Oli deserves this chance. He's faced criticism over the past few seasons, but his passion for wearing the Scotland shirt is evident.
He's worked hard on himself, returned to the Premier League, and now has the opportunity to stake claim to the number nine role." The upcoming fixtures for Scotland include matches against Slovenia (26 September, 14:00), Switzerland (29 September, 19:45), North Macedonia (3 October, 19:45), a return clash with Slovenia (6 October, 19:45), another game versus North Macedonia (13 November, 19:45) and a final encounter with Switzerland (16 November, 19:45). Fans are encouraged to follow Sky Sports on WhatsApp for the latest updates, video highlights and in‑depth analysis.
In summary, Sebastien Pocognoli's inaugural Scotland squad reflects a strategic shift towards a cohesive playing style, blending youthful exuberance with seasoned expertise. The selections, injuries and omissions all point to a manager intent on forging a new identity for the national team, while giving promising talents like Robbie Ure, Luis Binks and Oli McBurnie the platform to prove themselves on the international stage.