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Sebastien Pocognoli's Bold New Scotland Squad

Sebastien Pocognoli has wasted no time putting his stamp on Scotland.

In his first squad since replacing Steve Clarke, the Belgian has ripped up the old script, calling in five uncapped players, recalling a long-forgotten centre-forward and leaving a dozen World Cup names on the outside looking in.

This is not a gentle evolution. It is a reset.

New era, new names

The headline arrivals belong to Sevilla striker Robbie Ure and Brondby captain Luis Binks, both handed their first senior call-ups. Celtic defender Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City’s Stephen Welsh join them as fresh faces for the upcoming Nations League campaign.

Ure is the most eye-catching of the newcomers. Once a Rangers academy prospect, he left Scotland to rebuild his career, exploded at Swedish side Sirius with 20 goals in 20 games, and earned a move to LaLiga with Sevilla. At 22, and also eligible for Ukraine through his grandparents, he now steps into a Scotland squad crying out for a ruthless No 9.

Former Scotland forward James McFadden, speaking on Sky Sports News, believes Ure has earned this moment.

“Robbie Ure's taken an unconventional route,” he said. “He definitely deserves a respect because he's been brave to move away and forge a career elsewhere.”

Binks arrives with a different profile. The 25-year-old defender captains Danish SuperLiga side Brondby, having represented Scotland at U18 level before switching to England youth teams. Pocognoli has persuaded him back into the fold at a time when leadership at the back will be vital.

Donovan’s inclusion underlines how quickly the new coach is prepared to reward club form. The right-back has featured in every Celtic game this season and steps in for his club team-mate Anthony Ralston. McPake earns his place after impressing since his summer move to Hearts from St Johnstone, while Welsh is rewarded for a strong loan spell at Motherwell last season and a solid start with Swansea.

Big recalls, big absences

Oli McBurnie is back. The Hull City striker, whose last cap came in 2021, returns after rebuilding his career and reputation, forcing his way back into the Premier League and into Pocognoli’s thoughts.

“Oli deserves his opportunity,” McFadden said. “He's had to be patient but again another one that's gone away and worked on himself… Oli is definitely worth coming in and having a look at to see if he can go and make that number nine spot his own.”

Between the posts, Scott Bain and Jon McCracken are recalled following Craig Gordon’s retirement from international football after the World Cup. They join Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly in a reshaped goalkeeping department.

In midfield, Billy Gilmour’s return offers a welcome lift. The Napoli playmaker missed Clarke’s final squad through a knee injury but is back fit and ready to re-anchor Scotland’s passing game.

Luke Graham also steps up after a breakthrough season with Dundee and a place in the pre-World Cup training camp. Now at Stoke City, the defender has played every minute of their last four Championship matches, a run of three wins and a draw that has accelerated his rise from under-21 prospect to full international.

Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie of Sassuolo, Lennon Miller of Udinese and Hearts forward James Wilson are all recalled, adding a distinctly Serie A flavour and fresh attacking options.

But the list of absentees is just as telling.

Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, a central figure of the Clarke era, misses out as he recovers from minor heart surgery. Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland is sidelined by a hamstring injury, while Torino forward Che Adams is also unavailable.

In total, 12 players from the World Cup squad do not feature in Pocognoli’s first selection. John Souttar, Anthony Ralston, Grant Hanley, Dominic Hyam, Tyler Fletcher, Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst and Ross Stewart are all omitted, some through injury, others simply overtaken.

The message is clear: reputation alone will not carry anyone into this side.

Squad in full

Goalkeepers:

  • Scott Bain (Falkirk)
  • Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes)
  • Liam Kelly (Rangers)
  • Jon McCracken (Bradford City)

Defenders:

  • Luis Binks (Brondby)
  • 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)
  • Stephen Welsh (Swansea City)

Midfielders:

  • Ryan Christie (Bournemouth)
  • Lewis Ferguson (Bologna)
  • Billy Gilmour (Napoli)
  • John McGinn (Aston Villa)
  • Kenny McLean (Norwich City)
  • Josh McPake (Hearts)
  • Lennon Miller (Udinese)

Forwards:

  • Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo)
  • Findlay Curtis (Rangers)
  • Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth)
  • Oli McBurnie (Hull City)
  • Robbie Ure (Sevilla)
  • James Wilson (Hearts)

Nations League on the horizon

There is no soft launch for Pocognoli. Scotland’s Nations League schedule is unforgiving and condensed, with six games that will quickly define the mood around this new regime.

  • Slovenia vs Scotland – September 26, 2pm
  • Scotland vs Switzerland – September 29, 7.45pm
  • N. Macedonia vs Scotland – October 3, 7.45pm
  • Scotland vs Slovenia – October 6, 7.45pm
  • Scotland vs N. Macedonia – November 13, 7.45pm
  • Switzerland vs Scotland – November 16, 7.45pm

By the time that last whistle blows in Switzerland, we will know a lot more about Pocognoli, about Ure and McBurnie, and about whether this bold break from the past has pushed Scotland forward or simply torn up a successful blueprint.

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