Oli McBurnie Returns to Scotland Squad: A Bold New Era

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

McBurnie’s second act

McBurnie, now 30, has not kicked a ball for Scotland since 2021. Sixteen caps, no goals – that statistic has followed him everywhere. Yet his most important contribution remains that nerveless penalty in the shootout that dragged Scotland to the delayed Euro 2020 finals.

Pocognoli clearly believes there is still something there to unlock. In a squad light on fully established centre-forwards, McBurnie’s recall feels less like nostalgia and more like necessity. This is a manager willing to give a striker a second act.

New era, new faces

Around McBurnie, the squad has a distinctly fresh edge. Brondby defender Luis Binks, 25, headlines a group of uncapped players that also includes Colby Donovan, Jon McCracken, Josh McPake and Stephen Welsh. All five are named in a senior Scotland squad for the first time.

Binks, who has played age-grade football for both England and Scotland, has long hovered on the edge of international recognition. Donovan’s rise has been more sudden. The 20-year-old has seized his chance at Celtic, stepping in for injured Canada right-back Alistair Johnston and refusing to give the shirt back. Like McBurnie, he has already worn the thistle at under-19 and under-21 level. Now he steps onto the main stage.

As expected, Stoke City defender Luke Graham and Sevilla striker Robbie Ure also receive their first senior call-ups. For both, this has been coming.

Graham’s stock soared last season during a breakout campaign with Dundee, where he swept the club’s players’ player and young player of the year awards. He travelled with Scotland’s pre-World Cup training camp in May, sat on the bench for the send-off win over Curacao – Steve Clarke’s last act at Hampden – and has carried that momentum into life at Stoke. Three under-21 caps, ever-present in a Potters side unbeaten in four. Pocognoli has seen enough.

Ure’s path has been more exotic. A former Rangers academy forward, he caught fire in Sweden with Sirius, plundering 20 goals and three assists in 20 matches to haul them to the top of the table and earn a £5.5m move to Sevilla. La Liga has not yielded a goal yet, but his profile – and his eligibility for Ukraine – makes this call-up feel pointed. Tie him down now, or risk losing him later.

Old faces, new opportunities

Pocognoli has not ignored the familiar names either. Goalkeeper Scott Bain returns with four caps to his name, joined by Bradford City’s Jon McCracken, another keeper previously trusted in squads by Clarke. Both now get a fresh audition.

Kieron Bowie, Josh Doig, Lennon Miller and James Wilson are also recalled, their early-season form rewarded. For some, this feels like a restart; for others, a chance to finally nail down a place.

At Hearts, Wouter Vrancken had spoken confidently about Tynecastle representation, and he has been vindicated. Winger Josh McPake earns a first call-up, while attacking team-mate James Wilson – already capped twice – is back in the fold. Their performances have cut through the noise. Calvin Miller, however, misses out, a reminder that this is not a sentimental regime.

Swansea City defender Stephen Welsh stands on the brink of a first cap as well. The centre-back has hovered around the conversation for some time; now he has a manager willing to bring him into the room.

A reshaped attack

Up front, the picture is shifting. The inclusion of Bowie, McBurnie, Ure and Wilson comes as reports suggest Torino striker Che Adams is injured and unavailable. Adams’ absence removes a proven option, but it also opens the door.

Bowie, now at Sassuolo, brings energy and versatility on the flank. Doig, operating at left-back, and Udinese midfielder Lennon Miller add thrust and balance in wide and central areas, while McPake’s selection underlines Pocognoli’s appetite for direct, fearless wide players.

This is not a tentative first squad. It is a statement. Established names recalled, dual-national talents pulled closer, emerging domestic performers promoted without hesitation.

Pocognoli has shown his hand early: nobody’s place is guaranteed, and nobody is too far gone for a recall if the form demands it. For McBurnie and a clutch of ambitious newcomers, the question is simple now.

Can they turn opportunity into permanence?