Oli McBurnie Returns to Scotland Squad Under Sebastien Pocognoli
Oli McBurnie has been handed a shock Scotland recall as Sebastien Pocognoli named his first squad, with a clutch of fresh faces joining the Hull City striker in a revamped group.
The 30-year-old returns to the international scene for the first time in five years. His last cap came in 2021, the end of a 16-game run in dark blue that never produced a goal from open play, though he did hold his nerve from the spot in the penalty shootout that took Scotland to the delayed Euro 2020 finals. Now, under a new head coach and with a new cycle beginning, he gets another crack at it.
New era, new names
Pocognoli has wasted no time putting his stamp on the squad.
Uncapped quintet Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh all make the cut, while Stoke City defender Luke Graham and Sevilla forward Robbie Ure receive their first senior call-ups as expected.
There is a thread running through several of these picks: form, versatility and a hint of future-proofing.
Binks, 25, has been a steady presence for Brondby and brings a dual background at youth level, having represented both England and Scotland. Donovan, just 20, has surged into contention after stepping in impressively for injured Canada right-back Alistair Johnston at Celtic. Like McBurnie, he has already been blooded at under-19 and under-21 level.
Graham’s rise has been just as sharp. The 22-year-old defender turned heads during a breakthrough season with Dundee, sweeping the club’s players’ player and young player of the year awards. He travelled with Scotland to their pre-World Cup training camp in May and sat on the bench for the send-off win over Curacao, Steve Clarke’s final game in charge at Hampden Park. Now at Stoke, he has started the Championship campaign strongly, ever-present in a side unbeaten in their last four games. This time, he is in to play, not just to watch.
At the back, there is also a potential debut for Swansea City’s Stephen Welsh, who earns his place after forcing his way into the picture at club level.
Familiar faces return
Alongside the new blood, Pocognoli has turned back to some trusted names.
Goalkeeper Scott Bain, with four caps, is recalled after previously featuring under Clarke, as is Bradford City keeper Jon McCracken, who has been in senior squads before without yet making his bow.
Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Lennon Miller and James Wilson also return, underlining the new coach’s willingness to blend those on the fringes with established options. Wilson, an attacking threat for Heart of Midlothian, already has two caps and has started the season brightly.
Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken had spoken confidently about seeing his players recognised, and he was right. Winger McPake joins Wilson in the squad, rewarded for his early-season form at Tynecastle. There is disappointment, though, for team-mate Calvin Miller, who misses out.
Udinese midfielder Miller – still a teenager – makes the step up, as does left-back Doig, who continues his development in Serie A. Sassuolo forward Bowie is included too, giving Pocognoli another flexible attacking option.
Ure fast-tracked as Adams sidelined
Up front, the picture is changing.
Former Rangers academy striker Robbie Ure has been fast-tracked into the senior set-up after a blistering spell in Sweden with Sirius, where he hit 20 goals and added three assists in just 20 matches, firing the club to the top of the table. That form triggered a £5.5m summer move to Sevilla, where the 22-year-old is still waiting for his first goal in La Liga.
The numbers in Sweden were too loud to ignore. So was the passport. Eligible for Ukraine as well as Scotland, Ure represents a player Pocognoli clearly wants to secure early.
The inclusion of Bowie, McBurnie, Ure and Wilson up top comes as reports indicate Torino forward Che Adams is injured and therefore absent. Adams’ omission opens a lane for others, and the coach has not hesitated to flood it with options.
This is not a gentle tweak of the old guard. It is a clear break, a squad that leans into potential and form over reputation. McBurnie’s recall, Ure’s fast-tracking, the promotion of Donovan, Binks, Graham and Welsh – they all pose the same question.
Who will grab this chance and shape the next chapter of Scotland’s story?
