Oli McBurnie Returns to Scotland Squad Under Pocognoli

Oli McBurnie is back in dark blue. Five years after his last appearance and still searching for a first international goal, the Hull City forward has been recalled to a reshaped Scotland squad that carries a distinctly new edge under Sebastien Pocognoli.

The 30-year-old, capped 16 times between 2018 and 2021, returns as one of the headline names in the Belgian’s first selection. His record remains an oddity: no goals from open play, yet one nerveless penalty in the shootout that dragged Scotland to the delayed Euro 2020 finals. Pocognoli clearly believes there is unfinished business.

Pocognoli’s first stamp on Scotland

This is no gentle tweak of Steve Clarke’s old guard. It is a clear pivot.

Uncapped quintet Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh all step into the senior set-up for the first time, a bold statement from a coach unafraid to accelerate form players into his plans.

Stoke City defender Luke Graham and Sevilla striker Robbie Ure, both widely tipped for promotion, also receive their first senior call-ups. No surprises there, but their inclusion underlines the changing profile of this squad: younger, more mobile, and with an eye on the next cycle as much as the next match.

There is experience, too. Goalkeeper Scott Bain, forward Kieron Bowie, left-back Josh Doig, midfielder Lennon Miller and attacker James Wilson are all recalled. Che Adams, however, is absent, with reports from Italy indicating the Torino striker is injured. The door opens for others.

Dual nationals and new loyalties

Pocognoli has moved quickly to secure players with options.

Brondby defender Binks, 25, has worn both England and Scotland colours at youth level. Donovan, 20, has emerged at Celtic this season, stepping in impressively for injured Canada right-back Alistair Johnston. Both have represented Scotland at under-19 and under-21 level; now they are invited to take the full step.

Ure is perhaps the most intriguing case. A former Rangers academy forward, he exploded in Sweden with Sirius, scoring 20 goals and adding three assists in just 20 games to haul the club to the top of the table. That run earned a £5.5m summer move to Sevilla. He has yet to score in La Liga, but his ceiling is obvious.

Crucially, Ure is also eligible for Ukraine. His selection feels timely, a decisive move to tie down a striker who could become central to Scotland’s attacking future.

Graham’s rise, Hearts rewarded

Luke Graham’s inclusion feels like the natural next step in a rapid climb.

The defender enjoyed a breakout season with Dundee, sweeping the club’s players’ player and young player of the year awards in the Premiership. Clarke took him to the pre-World Cup training camp in May, and he sat on the bench as an unused substitute in the farewell win over Curacao at Hampden, the final match of the Clarke era.

Now 22 and an ever-present in a Stoke City side unbeaten in four Championship games, Graham arrives ready, not raw. Three caps at under-21 level hint at his path; Pocognoli has now opened the main door.

At Tynecastle, Wouter Vrancken predicted Hearts would be represented, and he was right. Winger McPake and attacking team-mate James Wilson, who already has two caps, are rewarded for sharp early-season form. Calvin Miller, though, misses out, a reminder that this new regime will not indulge reputations.

A new spine, a different feel

Between the posts, Bain returns to the fold. The Falkirk goalkeeper, capped four times, and Bradford City’s Jon McCracken both featured in squads named by Clarke and now survive the handover. Continuity in goal, experimentation everywhere else.

At the back, Swansea City’s Stephen Welsh is in line for a first cap, with Bowie, Doig and Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller all included to give the squad a fresher, more continental look. These are players learning their trade in different environments, asked now to bring that experience home.

Up front, the picture is suddenly crowded and competitive. Bowie, McBurnie, Ure and Wilson all make the cut, their presence shaped in part by Adams’ injury. For McBurnie, it is a shot at redemption. For Ure, a potential international debut that could define his allegiance. For Pocognoli, it is the first real glimpse of the attacking blend he wants.

This is not a revolution for its own sake. It is targeted, strategic, and unapologetically forward-facing.

The Clarke era delivered stability and qualification. Pocognoli’s first squad hints at a different question: how high, and how quickly, can this reshaped Scotland climb?