Scotland Squad Changes Under Sebastien Pocognoli: New Faces and Bold Moves

Sebastien Pocognoli has wasted no time shaking up Scotland.

In his first squad since taking the job, the Belgian has called up five uncapped players, recalled a long-absent centre-forward and left out a dozen World Cup names. This is not a gentle reset. It is a jolt.

New era, new faces

Sevilla striker Robbie Ure headlines the new boys. Brondby captain Luis Binks, Celtic right-back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City defender Stephen Welsh all step up to the senior squad for the first time ahead of the Nations League campaign.

There is a different kind of “new” in attack too. Hull City’s Oli McBurnie is back in a Scotland squad for the first time since 2021, the end of a long and occasionally stormy exile.

Behind them, there is a changing of the guard in goal. Scott Bain and Jon McCracken return to the fold after Craig Gordon’s retirement from international duty following the World Cup. Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly complete the goalkeeping group.

Billy Gilmour also reappears. The Napoli midfielder missed Steve Clarke’s farewell squad because of a knee injury but now returns as a central piece of Pocognoli’s plans.

Luke Graham, fresh from a breakout season with Dundee and a place in the pre-World Cup training camp, is rewarded with a full call-up. The Stoke City defender has played every minute of the club’s last four Championship matches, a run that has yielded three wins and a draw.

Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie of Sassuolo, Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller and Hearts forward James Wilson are also recalled as Pocognoli leans into a younger, more widely scattered group of Scots abroad.

Big absences and a bold reshuffle

Every new name comes at a cost. A total of 12 World Cup players are missing from Pocognoli’s first squad.

The most striking absentee is Scott McTominay. The Napoli midfielder is recovering from minor heart surgery and sits this one out. In attack, Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland is ruled out with a hamstring problem, while Torino’s Che Adams is also injured.

There is no place either for Rangers defender John Souttar, Celtic’s Anthony Ralston, Hibernian centre-back Grant Hanley, Wrexham’s Dominic Hyam, Manchester United youngster Tyler Fletcher, Millwall forward Lyndon Dykes, Stoke’s George Hirst or Swansea striker Ross Stewart.

The message is clear. Reputations alone will not carry players into this new cycle.

Who are the new boys?

Luis Binks arrives with leadership credentials. The 25-year-old is captain of Danish SuperLiga side Brondby and has already sampled both Scotland and England at youth level, having represented Scotland at U18 before switching into the England system.

Robbie Ure brings goals and a story. A former Rangers academy product, he exploded in Sweden with Sirius, scoring 20 goals in 20 matches and earning a “mega-move” to LaLiga with Sevilla. At 22, he already carries the experience of leaving home early and thriving abroad. He is also eligible for Ukraine through a grandparent, but Scotland have moved decisively to bring him in.

Josh McPake has forced his way into the picture on the back of sharp form since joining Hearts from St Johnstone in the summer. Stephen Welsh, now at Swansea City, capitalised on a strong loan spell at Motherwell from Celtic last season and gets his reward.

Colby Donovan’s rise has been more straightforward but just as impressive. The right-back has featured in every Celtic game so far this season and now steps up to replace club-mate Ralston on the international stage.

McFadden: ‘Ure has been brave’

Former Scotland striker James McFadden sees something different in Ure’s path.

“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.

“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.”

The same theme runs through McFadden’s view of McBurnie’s recall.

“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.”

A fresh front line, a coach willing to reset, and a Nations League campaign looming. The number nine jersey, and perhaps more than that, suddenly feels up for grabs.

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 schedule

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

Pocognoli has his blueprint on the table. The next few months will show whether this bolder, younger Scotland can turn promise into points.