Sebastien Pocognoli's Bold New Scotland Squad
Sebastien Pocognoli has wasted no time putting his stamp on Scotland.
The new head coach’s first squad is bold, noisy and full of fresh faces. Five players have been handed their first senior call-ups, with a long-awaited recall for Oli McBurnie adding extra intrigue before the Nations League campaign.
New era, new names
Sevilla striker Robbie Ure headlines the newcomers. Once a Rangers academy prospect, he tore through defences in Sweden with Sirius, scoring 20 goals in 20 games and earning a move to LaLiga. Now 22, and also eligible for Ukraine through his grandparents, he finally gets his shot in dark blue.
Brondby captain Luis Binks joins him. The 25-year-old defender, now a key figure in the Danish SuperLiga, returns to the Scottish setup after representing the country at U18 level before switching to England’s youth ranks.
Celtic right-back Colby Donovan is in after playing every game for the champions this season, stepping in where club team-mate Anthony Ralston drops out. Hearts winger Josh McPake is rewarded for his sharp start since arriving from St Johnstone in the summer, while Swansea City defender Stephen Welsh makes the jump after a strong loan spell at Motherwell last term.
Those five are the headline acts of Pocognoli’s reset. But they’re far from the only story.
McBurnie back, big names missing
Up front, Hull City striker McBurnie returns to the fold for the first time since 2021. His recall comes at a time when Scotland’s forward options are stretched.
Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay is out as he recovers from minor heart surgery. Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland misses out with a hamstring problem, with Torino’s Che Adams also sidelined. In total, 12 players from Scotland’s World Cup squad are absent from Pocognoli’s first list.
The omissions run deep. Rangers defender John Souttar, Celtic’s Ralston, Hibernian centre-back Grant Hanley, Wrexham’s Dominic Hyam, Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher, Millwall forward Lyndon Dykes, Stoke’s George Hirst and Swansea striker Ross Stewart are all missing.
The shape of the squad has shifted, and quickly.
Gilmour returns, Graham rewarded
There is better news in midfield. Napoli’s Billy Gilmour is back after a knee injury forced him out of Steve Clarke’s final squad before the World Cup. His return restores some of the technical heartbeat Scotland have leaned on in recent years.
At the back, Luke Graham’s rise continues. The Stoke City defender, capped three times at under-21 level, is included after a breakthrough campaign with his club. He has played every minute of Stoke’s last four Championship matches, a run that has yielded three wins and a draw.
Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, both at Sassuolo, are recalled, as is Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller. Hearts forward James Wilson also returns, adding more depth to Pocognoli’s attacking options.
In goal, Scott Bain and Jon McCracken are back in the frame following Craig Gordon’s retirement after the World Cup. The baton in that department has well and truly passed on.
McFadden: ‘Ure has been brave’
Former Scotland striker James McFadden believes Ure’s journey deserves respect.
“Robbie Ure is one that has been on the radar for his form in Sweden in particular, towards the run-up to the World Cup, but missed out on the squad,” he told Sky Sports News. “Getting that move to Sevilla shows that he has the capabilities to go and play at the highest level.
“It’s an area that we’ve struggled with for a number of years and for Scotland to bring competition.
“Robbie Ure’s taken an unconventional route. He definitely deserves a respect because he’s been brave to move away and forge a career elsewhere and probably be allowed to develop and focus on himself to get to this point.”
On McBurnie, McFadden sees a striker who has earned another chance.
“Oli deserves his opportunity and there’s been a bit of a backlash towards Oli over the last few years.
“I know how passionate he is about playing for Scotland. He’s had to be patient but again another one that’s gone away and worked on himself and focused on himself.
“Got back to the Premier League and 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.”
The message is clear: Pocognoli wants forwards who have fought their way back.
The 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 tests ahead
There is no gentle introduction for Pocognoli. Scotland open their Nations League campaign away to Slovenia on 26 September, before hosting Switzerland three days later. A trip to North Macedonia on 3 October follows, then home ties against Slovenia on 6 October and North Macedonia on 13 November. The group ends in Switzerland on 16 November.
By then, everyone will know whether this first wave of Ure, Binks, Donovan and the rest marks a brief experiment or the start of a very different Scotland.
