Oli McBurnie Headlines Scotland's New Era Under Pocognoli
Oli McBurnie is back in dark blue. Five years after his last appearance, the Hull City forward headlines a Scotland squad that feels like a hard reset under new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli.
This is not a gentle evolution. It is a clear break.
McBurnie returns, Adams absent
McBurnie, now 30, won the last of his 16 caps in 2021. He has never scored for Scotland in open play, yet his nerveless penalty in the shootout that took the country to the delayed Euro 2020 finals still lingers in the memory. That moment of composure clearly still counts for something.
His recall comes as Torino striker Che Adams misses out, with reports indicating the forward is injured. The attacking spots instead go to a mix of returning faces and ambitious new picks: Kieron Bowie, Robbie Ure and James Wilson join McBurnie in a reshaped forward line.
The message is blunt: reputations alone no longer guarantee a place.
New era, new names
Pocognoli’s first squad carries his stamp immediately. Uncapped quintet Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh are all included, signalling a willingness to promote form and potential over familiarity.
Binks, 25, has walked the line between two systems for years, having represented both England and Scotland at youth level. Now at Brondby, the defender finally gets his chance to commit at senior level.
Donovan, just 20, has surged into the frame on the back of his performances for Celtic. Drafted in to cover injured Canada right-back Alistair Johnston, he has not merely filled a gap; he has seized it. Like McBurnie, he has experience at under-19 and under-21 level, but this is a different stage entirely.
Swansea City’s Welsh, another uncapped defender, also stands on the brink of a first appearance, while goalkeeper McCracken and winger McPake complete the list of fresh faces.
Graham steps up, Bain returns
At the back, one name has been circling the senior setup for a while. Stoke City defender Luke Graham finally gets his first full call-up after flirting with the squad in the summer.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout season with Dundee, where he swept the players’ player and young player of the year awards. He travelled with Scotland’s pre-World Cup training camp in May and sat on the bench for the send-off win over Curacao, Steve Clarke’s final match in charge at Hampden Park.
Now, after a strong start to life at Stoke – ever-present in a side unbeaten in their last four Championship games – he steps fully into the international picture.
Behind him, the goalkeeping department blends old and new. Falkirk’s Scott Bain, capped four times, returns, joined by Bradford City’s McCracken. Both were involved in squads under Clarke; Pocognoli clearly sees value in continuity between the posts while he experiments further up the pitch.
Hearts rewarded, but not everyone
Heart of Midlothian head coach Wouter Vrancken had hinted that Tynecastle would be well represented, and he was right. Winger Josh McPake and attacking team-mate James Wilson, who already has two caps, are both included after eye-catching early-season form.
It is not a blanket endorsement of Hearts’ attack, though. Calvin Miller misses out, a reminder that this regime is watching closely and choosing selectively.
Bowie, Doig, Miller make the cut
Across the rest of the squad, Pocognoli leans heavily on players thriving abroad.
Sassuolo forward Bowie is in, joined by left-back Josh Doig and Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller. All three are recalled after spells out of the senior picture, their inclusion a nod to solid club form in demanding leagues.
James Wilson’s selection adds another layer of attacking depth, with the Hearts forward part of a group that suddenly looks younger, more mobile and far less predictable.
Ure fast-tracked as Scotland move to act
Robbie Ure might be the most intriguing name of all.
A former Rangers academy product, the striker lit up Sweden with Sirius, scoring 20 goals and adding three assists in just 20 matches. That run dragged the club to the top of the table and triggered a £5.5m summer move to Sevilla.
La Liga has not yielded a goal yet for the 22-year-old, but the potential is obvious. So is the risk of waiting. Ure is also eligible for Ukraine, and his inclusion feels like a decisive move from Pocognoli to secure his international future early.
The same urgency runs through the forward line as a whole. With Adams sidelined, Pocognoli turns to Bowie, McBurnie, Ure and Wilson, a quartet that blends unfinished business, raw promise and the hunger of players who know this could be their moment.
A squad with edges
This first selection under Sebastien Pocognoli does not drift in on sentiment. It cuts.
Established names return, but only those still making a case. Young players are promoted, not pampered. Dual nationals are nudged towards a decision.
McBurnie’s recall, Ure’s fast-tracking, Graham’s elevation, Binks’ commitment call – they all point in the same direction.
Scotland are not just refreshing a squad. They are drawing new battle lines for the next campaign.
