McBurnie & Donovan join Graham & Ure in Scotland squad

Hull City forward Oli McBurnie has been called up to the Scotland squad for the first time in five years while uncapped Luis Binks, Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh also makes new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli's first selection. As expected, Stoke City defender Luke Graham and Sevilla striker Robbie Ure receive their first senior call-ups. Scott Bain, Josh Doig, Lennon Miller and James Wilson are all recalled. McBurnie, 30, first featured for his country in 2018 and won the last of his 16 caps in 2021. He has never scored for Scotland but did net one of the penalties in the shootout that sealed a place at the delayed Euro 2020 finals. Brondby's Binks, 25, has previously played age grade football for England and Scotland while fellow defender Donovan, 20, has come to prominence filling in for injured Canada right-back Alistair Johnston in Celtic's side this season. Like McBurnie, he has been capped at under-19 and under-21 level. Graham was part of Scotland's pre-World Cup training camp in May after a breakthrough campaign with Dundee, winning the Scottish Premiership club's players' player and young player of the year awards. The 22-year-old was an unused substitute in the country's send-off friendly win against Curacao, which was also Steve Clarke's last game in the dugout at Hampden Park. The defender, who has three caps at under-21 level, has started strongly for The Potters in the Championship, who are unbeaten in their last four games, with Graham an ever-present. Former Rangers academy product Ure was in demand across Europe after a free-scoring spell - 20 goals and three assists in 20 matches - that took Sirius to the top of the table in Sweden and it resulted in a £5.5m summer transfer to La Liga with Sevilla. Time for Pocognoli to pick - who could be named in new-look Scotland squad? Stoke best place for me to take step up - Graham Is Sevilla's 'all-round striker' Ure ready to lead Scotland's attack? Ure, also 22, has yet to find the target in Spain, but given his eligibility for Ukraine, the new head coach appears tempted to tie him down as soon as possible. Since Poconogli was announced as Clarke's successor - the former Kilmarnock manager having resigned after the Scots failed to qualify for the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time - the expectation has been that the Belgian will look to freshen up an ageing squad. His countryman, Heart of Midlothian head coach Wouter Vrancken, was "confident" there would be a few players from the Tynecastle club included. His front three of striker James Wilson and wingers Calvin Miller and Josh McPake have been receiving plaudits for their recent performances. Former Scotland captain Scott Brown too had high hopes for the Hearts wingers, who have heavily contributed to their side's strong start to the season. Pocognoli will take charge of Scotland for the first time on Saturday, 26 September in the Scots' Nations League B opener against Slovenia and his debut in the Hampden dugout will be three days later against Switzerland. More to follow.