Robbie Ure expressed genuine excitement after his atypical journey through the football world culminated in a selection for manager Sébastien Pocognoli's inaugural Scotland squad. The 22‑year‑old forward, who originally honed his skills within the Rangers youth system, found his pathway to senior international football diverted from the traditional Scottish route, leading him to the continent and ultimately to LaLiga.
Ure's early career began at the Rangers academy, where he progressed through the ranks but struggled to break into the first team. Facing limited opportunities, he made the bold decision to leave Scotland in 2023, signing for Belgian giants Anderlecht.
"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," he explained to Sky Sports News. In hindsight, Ure feels the move was essential, noting that it allowed him to develop in a new environment and gain the experience required to compete at a higher level.
After a season in Belgium, Ure embarked on another adventure, this time heading north to Sweden to join IK Sirius. It was there that his goal‑scoring instincts truly blossomed; he netted an impressive 31 goals in just 50 appearances. Such a prolific record quickly attracted attention from clubs across Europe, and during the summer transfer window he secured a move to Sevilla in Spain's top flight.
The transfer, valued at an initial £5.5 million, marked a significant step up and underscored the rapid ascent of the young striker. His impressive club form did not go unnoticed by the Scottish national team selectors.
Pocognoli, who took over from Steve Clarke, assembled a fresh‑look squad, leaving out 12 players from the previous World Cup roster and also omitting the forwards who had opted to play in Major League Soccer. Ure's inclusion signals the new manager's willingness to inject fresh energy and a different playing style into the side.
"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," Ure said. Ure acknowledges that his route is unusual for a Scottish player.
While many fans might assume his move abroad happened only recently, he points out that it has been a three‑year journey of hard work, adaptation to new cultures, and relentless pursuit of his dream. "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 reflected. The new Scotland team under Pocognoli is set to begin its campaign in Ljubljana on Saturday, with a friendly against Switzerland scheduled at Hampden Park three days later. The squad will then travel to North Macedonia on 3 October before returning to Glasgow for another match against Slovenia on 6 October.
Scotland, having been relegated from Nations League A after a play‑off loss to Greece, will now compete in the second tier of the competition this year. Pocognoli's philosophy emphasizes intelligent, cohesive football. He wants his players to recognise spaces, stay compact, and execute a collective game plan. "He wants us to play smart football, identify where the spaces are and be close together as well and a lot more things," Ure observed.
The manager also stresses the importance of hard work and adapting to his tactical demands. "We need to bring a fresh energy, hard work as well and try to play how the new gaffer wants us to play," Ure added. The full Scotland roster features a mix of seasoned internationals and emerging talents. Goalkeepers include Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers) and Jon McCracken (Bradford City).
The defensive line boasts 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) and Stephen Welsh (Swansea City). In midfield, the selections are Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese) and Kristie Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers). Up front, alongside Ure, are Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon‑Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City) and James Wilson (Hearts). Ure hopes to seize his chance and add a goal‑scoring edge to a Scotland side eager to reinvent itself.
"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," he said. Fans can stay updated on the squad's progress and upcoming fixtures via Sky Sports' WhatsApp channel, which provides the latest news, videos, analysis and more. The upcoming matches are: 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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