Robbie Ure expressed genuine excitement after his atypical football journey earned him a place in 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 rediscovered his scoring touch, netting an impressive 31 goals in just 50 appearances.
His prolific form caught the eye of scouts throughout Europe, and during the summer transfer window he secured a move to LaLiga club Sevilla for an initial fee reported to be around £5.5 million. The rapid progression from the Scottish academy to one of Spain’s top divisions has now been rewarded with his maiden senior call‑up for the national side. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Ure reflected on the pivotal decision to leave Rangers: “At Rangers I didn’t feel I could progress any further, so I needed a stepping‑stone before the next big step. Anderlecht gave me that platform.” He added that, looking back, the choice was unequivocally the right one.
“It’s a bit unusual for a Scottish player to take that route, but for me it’s been three years of hard work, moving between countries and chasing the chance to play at a higher level.” Ure acknowledged that the unconventional path is often perceived as a recent phenomenon, yet he emphasized that his journey has been a steady climb rather than a sudden leap. “People think this only happened in the last few weeks, but it’s been a long, enjoyable process,” he said. “I did hope there would be opportunities under the new manager, and I’m delighted to be part of his first training camp. I hope I can prove what I’m capable of on the pitch.” Pocognoli’s new‑look Scotland side marks a clear departure from Steve Clarke’s final World Cup squad, with twelve former regulars omitted.
Notably, none of the forwards who ventured to Major League Soccer this summer made the list, opening the door for Ure to stake his claim among the attacking options. “The aim is to inject fresh energy, work ethic and to play the style the new manager envisions,” Ure explained. “For a striker, the obvious goal is to score, but there’s more to it. We want to gather as much information and playing time as possible to fully implement the coach’s tactical plan.” The Pocognoli era officially kicks off in Ljubljana on Saturday, followed by a home fixture against Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later.
Afterward, 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 demotion 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 new manager’s philosophy: “He wants us to play intelligent football, identify and exploit spaces, stay compact and cohesive, among many other aspects. It’s early days, but as the weeks pass we’ll see more of what he’s trying to instill.” The full Scotland roster 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 via Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel for the latest news, video highlights, in‑depth analysis and more. 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.
Additional matches later in the year include Scotland vs North Macedonia on 13 November and Switzerland vs Scotland on 16 November, both kicking off at 19:45. For a chance at a £1 million prize, supporters are invited to participate in the Super 6 promotion, which offers free entry.