Oli McBurnie Returns to Scotland Squad Under New Coach
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 new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli stamps his authority on his first selection with a blend of returns, gambles and fresh blood.
McBurnie’s second act
McBurnie, now 30, won the last of his 16 caps in 2021. He has never scored for Scotland in open play, but his nerveless penalty in the shootout that booked a place at the delayed Euro 2020 finals remains part of the national-team story.
Pocognoli has decided that story is not finished. With Che Adams missing out amid reports of an injury at Torino, the door swings open again for McBurnie, whose form at club level has pushed him back into contention.
He is joined in attack by Sevilla forward Robbie Ure and Sassuolo’s Kieron Bowie, both earning their first senior call-ups.
New era, new faces
Pocognoli’s first squad is not just about a returning centre-forward. It is loaded with new names.
Uncapped quintet Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh all make the cut, signalling a willingness to accelerate players from promising to international level.
As expected, Stoke City defender Luke Graham and Sevilla striker Ure also receive their first senior invitations after eye-catching spells with their clubs.
Binks, 25, now at Brondby, has represented both England and Scotland at youth level. Donovan, 20, has burst into the spotlight at Celtic, stepping in at right-back for injured Canada international Alistair Johnston and holding his place. Like McBurnie, he has experience with Scotland’s under-19 and under-21 sides.
Welsh, now with Swansea City, could finally collect his first cap after years on the radar, while left-back Josh Doig of Sassuolo and Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller are rewarded for their progression.
Graham’s rise rewarded
Graham’s inclusion feels like the natural next step in a rapid rise.
The 22-year-old defender enjoyed a breakthrough season with Dundee, sweeping the players’ player and young player of the year awards at the Scottish Premiership club. That form earned him a place in Scotland’s pre-World Cup training camp in May, where he was an unused substitute in the send-off win over Curacao – Steve Clarke’s final match in charge at Hampden Park.
He has carried that momentum into life with Stoke City. The Potters are unbeaten in their last four Championship games, with Graham an ever-present at the heart of their defence. Now he gets his chance to make the jump from under-21 international, where he has three caps, to full senior duty.
Goalkeeping competition reshaped
Between the posts, there is a familiar name and a fresh opportunity.
Falkirk’s Scott Bain, capped four times, returns after previous involvement under Clarke. He is joined by Bradford City’s Jon McCracken, another of the new faces Pocognoli has decided to keep in the fold after his predecessor first brought him into the setup.
Both will jostle for position in a goalkeeping group that is clearly being reshaped for the new regime.
Hearts talent recognised – and one left out
Pocognoli’s compatriot Wouter Vrancken, head coach at Heart of Midlothian, predicted Tynecastle representation. He was right.
Winger Josh McPake is called up on the back of strong early-season displays, while attacking team-mate James Wilson, who already has two caps, is also included. Their form has been impossible to ignore.
There is disappointment, though, for Hearts winger Calvin Miller, who misses out despite Vrancken’s optimism that several of his players would be involved.
Ure fast-tracked, eligibility in mind
If one name jumps off the list, it is Robbie Ure.
The former Rangers academy forward exploded in Sweden with Sirius, scoring 20 goals and adding three assists in just 20 matches to drive them to the top of the table. That blistering run triggered a £5.5m summer move to La Liga with Sevilla.
Ure, 22, has yet to score in Spain, but his ceiling is obvious. His international future, though, is not. Eligible for Ukraine as well as Scotland, he represents a tug-of-war in the making. Pocognoli’s decision to bring him in now feels like a clear attempt to secure his allegiance early.
A squad with an edge
The forward line has a different look. Bowie, McBurnie, Ure and Wilson all make it, a quartet selected as Adams sits out amid those injury reports from Italy.
Around them, the spine of the squad shows what Pocognoli wants: younger defenders in form, versatile full-backs, energetic midfielders like Miller, and a cluster of attacking options still climbing towards their peak.
No grand statements. No sweeping clear-outs. Just a first squad that nudges Scotland into a new phase, with familiar names fighting for their place and a wave of newcomers eager to take it.
