Oli McBurnie Returns to Scotland Squad Under Sebastien Pocognoli

Oli McBurnie is back in dark blue. Five years after his last appearance, the Hull City striker has been recalled to the Scotland squad as Sebastien Pocognoli stamps his authority on his first selection with a bold mix of returns, promotions and fresh bets on potential.

The 30-year-old, who debuted in 2018 and has 16 caps, remains without an international goal from open play, but his nerveless penalty in the Euro 2020 play-off shootout is etched into recent Scotland history. Pocognoli clearly believes there is still a role for the robust forward in the next chapter.

New era, new names

The most eye-catching theme of this squad is opportunity. Uncapped quintet Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh all step up, while Stoke defender Luke Graham and Sevilla striker Robbie Ure receive the senior nod many have been expecting.

Binks, 25, now at Brondby, has drifted between England and Scotland at youth level. That tug of allegiance looks settled for now. Donovan, just 20, has surged into the conversation this season by deputising impressively for injured Canada right-back Alistair Johnston at Celtic. Like McBurnie, both Binks and Donovan have already worn the thistle at under-19 and under-21 level; this is the natural but still significant next step.

Graham’s rise has been steady rather than spectacular, but no less convincing. After a breakthrough season with Dundee, where he swept the players’ player and young player of the year awards, he joined up with Scotland’s pre-World Cup training camp in May. He did not see the pitch in the farewell win over Curacao – Steve Clarke’s final outing at Hampden – yet that experience clearly did him no harm. Now 22 and an ever-present in a Stoke City side unbeaten in four Championship matches, he finally gets his shot.

Familiar faces, second chances

Pocognoli has also turned back to a cluster of players who drifted from the picture under Clarke. Goalkeeper Scott Bain, winger Kieron Bowie, left-back Josh Doig, midfielder Lennon Miller and forward James Wilson are all recalled, underlining that the door has not closed on those who slipped away.

Bain, capped four times and now at Falkirk, returns alongside Bradford City keeper Jon McCracken, who, like him, was previously trusted by Clarke in earlier squads. Between them and the new faces, the goalkeeping department has a different edge.

At Tynecastle, Heart of Midlothian head coach Wouter Vrancken had hinted he expected his players to be recognised. He was right. Winger McPake earns a first call, while his attacking team-mate Wilson – already capped twice – is rewarded again for his early-season form. Yet not everyone in maroon benefits: fellow Hearts winger Calvin Miller misses out.

Swansea City defender Stephen Welsh is another who could finally cross the line from prospect to full international. The centre-back now has the chance to convert years of discussion into a first cap.

Bowie, currently at Sassuolo, and Doig, who has been building a reputation from left-back, both make the cut, as does Udinese midfielder Miller. Each brings something slightly different: energy, versatility, and the kind of technical profile Pocognoli appears keen to encourage.

Ure, eligibility and a race against time

Up front, the inclusion of Robbie Ure feels particularly strategic. The former Rangers academy forward exploded in Sweden with Sirius, scoring 20 goals and adding three assists in just 20 matches, dragging the club to the top of the table and forcing Europe to pay attention. Sevilla responded with a £5.5m move in the summer.

La Liga has not yet yielded a goal for the 22-year-old, but the bigger story lies in his passport. Ure is also eligible for Ukraine, and his call-up has the clear feel of a manager keen to secure his international future early.

The same logic, in a different way, applies to the forward line as a whole. Bowie, McBurnie, Ure and Wilson all make it, at a time when reports suggest Torino striker Che Adams is injured and therefore absent. Adams’ omission strips Scotland of a proven Premier League finisher, but it also forces Pocognoli to accelerate his search for new combinations.

A squad with edges and intent

Taken together, this first squad under Pocognoli is not a revolution, but it is a statement. Established names remain, yet there is a clear tilt towards players in form, players on the rise, and players whose international futures needed a decisive nudge.

McBurnie’s recall hints at unfinished business. Ure’s selection hints at a long game. Binks, Donovan, Graham, McPake and Welsh all represent the manager’s willingness to trust those who have earned their chance away from the traditional spotlight.

Now comes the only part that really counts: whether this blend of returnees, rookies and nearly-men can turn promise into performances when the anthem stops and the whistle goes.