Sebastien Pocognoli's Bold Scotland Squad Selection

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

In his first squad since taking over, the Belgian has called up five uncapped players, recalled several familiar faces and left out a dozen World Cup names. This is not a gentle transition. It’s a reset.

New faces for a new era

The headline arrivals are Sevilla striker Robbie Ure and Brondby captain Luis Binks, both earning their first full call-ups.

Ure’s story jumps off the page. Released by Rangers as a youngster, he tore through the Swedish Allsvenskan with Sirius, scoring 20 goals in 20 games and earning a move to LaLiga with Sevilla. Now 22, and also eligible for Ukraine through his grandparents, he has forced his way into the national picture by sheer weight of goals and ambition.

Binks brings a different profile. The 25-year-old defender, captain of Danish SuperLiga side Brondby, has already worn Scotland colours at U18 level before switching to England’s youth ranks. Pocognoli has brought him back into the fold at a time when leadership at the back is at a premium.

They’re joined by three more debutants: Celtic right-back Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City defender Stephen Welsh.

Donovan has featured in every Celtic game this season and steps in for club team-mate Anthony Ralston. McPake’s summer move from St Johnstone to Hearts has ignited his form and earned quick recognition. Welsh, meanwhile, is rewarded after a strong loan spell at Motherwell from Celtic last season and a solid start at Swansea.

This is not tinkering. It’s a clear message: perform, and you’re in.

Big recall up front

Up top, one name stands out. Oli McBurnie is back.

The Hull City striker last played for Scotland in 2021. Since then, he has ridden out criticism, battled for form and fought his way back to the Premier League before moving to Hull. Now, Pocognoli has decided it’s time to look again.

Former Scotland forward James McFadden believes the 28-year-old has earned it.

“Oli deserves his opportunity and there’s been a bit of a backlash towards Oli over the last few years,” McFadden told Sky Sports News. “I know how passionate he is about playing for Scotland… 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.”

McBurnie won’t be short of competition. New arrival Ure and Hearts forward James Wilson are also in the attacking mix, alongside Rangers’ Findlay Curtis, Bournemouth’s Ben Gannon-Doak and Sassuolo’s Kieron Bowie.

Up front has long been Scotland’s problem area. Pocognoli has clearly decided to throw the door wide open.

Ure’s “brave” route

McFadden reserved particular praise for Ure, whose journey has taken him far from Glasgow to get back into the Scotland conversation.

“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 and probably be allowed to develop and focus on himself to get to this point.”

That move to Sevilla, McFadden added, underlines the level Ure can reach. Scotland have searched for a ruthless penalty-box striker for years. Ure now has the platform to show he can be that player.

Familiar names return, others miss out

Behind the new faces, there is a spine of experience.

Goalkeepers Scott Bain and Jon McCracken return after Craig Gordon’s retirement following the World Cup. Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly complete the quartet between the posts.

In midfield, Billy Gilmour is back. The Napoli playmaker missed Steve Clarke’s final squad with a knee injury but returns to anchor the new era. Lennon Miller of Udinese is also recalled after his own rise in Serie A, alongside Bologna’s Lewis Ferguson, Aston Villa’s John McGinn, Norwich’s Kenny McLean and Hearts’ McPake.

At the back, Stoke City defender Luke Graham steps up after a breakthrough season at Dundee and a place in Scotland’s pre-World Cup training camp in May. The 22-year-old has played every minute of Stoke’s last four Championship games, helping The Potters to three wins and a draw. Josh Doig and Kieron Bowie, both at Sassuolo, also return, as does Wilson of Hearts.

There are notable absentees.

Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay is out as he recovers from minor heart surgery. Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland misses out with a hamstring injury, while Torino forward Che Adams is also sidelined.

In total, 12 players from the World Cup squad are missing from Pocognoli’s first selection. Rangers’ John Souttar, Celtic’s Anthony Ralston, Hibernian defender Grant Hanley, Wrexham’s Dominic Hyam, Manchester United’s Tyler Fletcher, Millwall’s Lyndon Dykes, Stoke’s George Hirst and Swansea’s Ross Stewart are all left out.

This is not a courtesy nod to the old guard. It’s a competitive environment.

Full Scotland squad

• 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 landing for Pocognoli. His first games come in the Nations League, with a demanding schedule that will quickly test his new-look squad.

Scotland open away to Slovenia on 26 September (2pm), then host Switzerland at Hampden on 29 September (7.45pm). October brings a trip to North Macedonia on the 3rd (7.45pm) before Slovenia visit Glasgow on 6 October (7.45pm).

The campaign finishes with back-to-back fixtures in November: Scotland at home to North Macedonia on the 13th (7.45pm), then away to Switzerland on the 16th (7.45pm).

New coach. New names. Big calls.

The question now is simple: can this reshaped Scotland side turn bold selection into real momentum when the Nations League whistle blows?