The six uncapped stars handed a Scotland chance by new coach

Luis Binks

The Brondby captain represented both England and Scotland at youth level in an interesting football journey which started in the Tottenham academy. The Kent-born centre-back, 25, has played for Montreal Impact, Bologna, Como and Coventry before excelling in Denmark. Pocognoli revealed it was a straightforward process to get the 6ft 3in defender into his squad. “The most important thing is that I don’t need to convince players to represent the country,” he said. “For me it’s timing. The timing was right with him.”

Colby Donovan

The right-back was only 18 when he made his Champions League debut for Celtic in a play-off against Kairat Almaty, just his second senior appearance, and he handled himself well away at the likes of Red Star Belgrade, Feyenoord and Stuttgart last season. Recently turned 20, Donovan has started Celtic’s last eight matches at right-back amid the absence of Alistair Johnston and has 37 first-team appearances. Pocognoli said: “He played some good games. He also had moments where he needed to deal with the expectations. Hopefully this camp will give him a new experience and football lifestyle moment.”

Luke Graham

The 22-year-old was brought in to train with Scotland’s World Cup squad before they flew off to the United States but this is the centre-back’s first official call-up. Graham has since earned a move from Dundee to Stoke and will aim to establish himself in the squad after an impressive final season at Dens Park.

Sebastien Pocognoli names first Scotland squad as seven uncapped players involved

• Rangers coach to leave club just two months after joining McInnes' backroom team
• Celtic Supporters Ltd aim fresh swipe at board in Rangers mauling aftermath

Stephen Welsh

Welsh will be known to Pocognoli through his half-season with Mechelen when the new Scotland head coach was leading Union St-Gilloise to the Belgian title. The 26-year-old kick-started his career on loan at Motherwell last season, with his ability on the ball coming to the fore in the Steelmen’s possession-based game. Since leaving boyhood club Celtic after 70 appearances, he has been ever-present in Swansea’s impressive start to the Sky Bet Championship season and already become a fan favourite.

Josh McPake

The Hearts winger was highly rated as a Rangers youth player but was released in 2024 without playing for the first team after a series of loan spells north and south of the border. He ended up at Stirling and soon earned a move to St Johnstone but struggled to make his mark in his first season. His breakthrough year came as Saints won the Championship and he netted 19 goals on the way to a move to Tynecastle. The 25-year-old has quickly made his mark, netting twice for the club and also delivering three goals in his first four league matches.

Robbie Ure

Another former Rangers youth player, Ure played three first-team games for the Light Blues before moving to Belgium to kick-start his career with Anderlecht’s second team in the second tier. He earned a move to Sweden where he starred for Sirius and, with 15 goals in as many games this season, he earned a big-money move to Sevilla in August. He has featured in every game, with his club sitting sixth in the table.