Sebastien Pocognoli's New Era for Scotland Squad

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

Five uncapped players – including Sevilla striker Robbie Ure and Brondby captain Luis Binks – headline the Belgian’s first squad for the upcoming Nations League campaign, as a new era begins without several World Cup regulars.

New faces, new tone

Ure, Binks, Celtic right-back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea defender Stephen Welsh all step up to the senior squad for the first time, a bold injection of youth and fresh energy.

There is also a storyline many Scotland fans thought they might not see again: Oli McBurnie is back. The Hull City forward, whose last cap came in 2021, earns a long-awaited recall as Pocognoli looks to reshape a forward line that has lacked depth and consistency.

Behind them, change continues. Goalkeepers Scott Bain and Jon McCracken return after Craig Gordon’s retirement from international football following the World Cup, signalling a definitive shift from one era to the next.

Billy Gilmour, now at Napoli, is also back in the fold. A knee injury forced him out of Steve Clarke’s final squad, but his return gives Scotland a familiar technical heartbeat in midfield.

Big absences in a reshaped squad

The new coach will start without some of his biggest names. Scott McTominay is missing as he recovers from minor heart surgery, while Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland is out with a hamstring problem. Torino forward Che Adams is also sidelined.

In total, 12 players from the World Cup squad are absent from Pocognoli’s first selection. That list includes Rangers defender John Souttar, Celtic’s Anthony Ralston, Hibernian centre-back Grant Hanley, Wrexham’s Dominic Hyam, Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher, Millwall striker Lyndon Dykes, Stoke’s George Hirst and Swansea forward Ross Stewart.

This is not a gentle tweak. It’s a reset.

Breakthroughs rewarded

Luke Graham is one of the biggest winners from that reset. The Stoke City defender, capped three times at under-21 level, is included after a breakthrough season with Dundee and a strong start to life in the Championship, where he has played every minute of a run of three wins and a draw in Stoke’s last four games. He was part of Scotland’s pre-World Cup training camp in May; now he gets his full shot.

Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, both at Sassuolo, are recalled, as are Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller and Hearts forward James Wilson, underlining Pocognoli’s willingness to lean on those thriving abroad and in the Premiership.

McPake’s summer move from St Johnstone to Hearts has transformed his trajectory. His early form in Gorgie has pushed him into the national picture, while Welsh’s inclusion follows a successful loan spell at Motherwell from Celtic last season and a move to Swansea, where he has continued to develop.

Donovan, meanwhile, has quietly made himself undroppable at club level. The right-back has featured in every Celtic game so far this season and takes the spot of his club team-mate Ralston.

Who are the new boys?

Binks brings leadership as well as potential. The 25-year-old captains Danish SuperLiga side Brondby and has already sampled international football at youth level, representing Scotland at under-18 before switching to England’s youth ranks. Pocognoli has tempted him back.

Ure’s story is different, more adventurous. A former Rangers academy forward, he exploded in Sweden with Sirius, scoring 20 goals in 20 matches and earning a big move to LaLiga with Sevilla. At 22, he also remains eligible for Ukraine through the grandparent rule, but this call-up is Scotland’s move to secure his future.

McPake’s rise has come through domestic graft rather than overseas glamour, while Welsh’s path has been one of patience and steady improvement. Donovan’s elevation is the classic reward for reliability: play every minute for Celtic, and the national team will come calling.

McFadden’s verdict: Ure’s courage, McBurnie’s chance

Former Scotland striker James McFadden sees Ure as the symbol of this new direction.

“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 believes the narrative needs to change.

“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: prove yourself, and Pocognoli will listen.

Scotland 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 this new-look Scotland. The Nations League schedule is relentless:

• 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 final whistle blows in Switzerland, everyone will know if Pocognoli’s gamble on new blood has simply freshened the squad – or fundamentally changed the direction of Scottish football.