Scotland squad debrief: Robbie Ure, Andy Robertson meeting and changing of guard
Pocognoli makeover begins in earnest with new-look squad
Ever wondered when a Scotland squad would be announced where the majority of players were born in the 2000s? This landmark moment arrived in late morning on Tuesday 15th September 2026 at Hampden Park.
Welcome to a new era. All hail Sebastien Pocognoli’s Gen Z babes. Talk about a freshening up. Exactly half of the 28 players named were not involved when Scotland’s World Cup adventure hit the buffers 12 weeks ago against Brazil in Miami.
Even Hampden has had a makeover. The auditorium has been repainted and there is new branding on the walls of the crush room outside. “Our home," it says.
Such signposting might be helpful given the number of newbies. Six of the call-ups are uncapped. As mentioned above, 16 have been born since those of a certain age were fretting about a millennium bug short-circuiting computers and causing planes to fall out of the skies.
Someone born on the first day of the current century is nearing 27 now, so that’s hardly youthful. Those attending Pocognoli’s first squad naming press conference were handed sheets containing the players' names, obviously, as well as their cap totals, if applicable. Birthdates were also provided. The number of 2004s and 2006s – there was even a 2007! – was notable.
They included 22-year-old Luke Graham, the former Dundee defender who has adapted with such ease to life in the Championship with Stoke City.
As for Robbie Ure, meanwhile - remember when Scotland were scudded 4-0 by Wales in Cardiff under Berti Vogts? Feels like yesterday in some respects. Sevilla striker Ure was born the week afterwards: 24/2/2004. At least Luis Binks, born in October 2001, has the good grace to have entered the world during the reign of Craig Brown – just.
He did so in Gillingham but qualifies for Scotland due to having a Scottish grandparent. Now 25 and playing for Brondby, the centre-back is old enough to have been given the role of skipper by the Danish club.
But Hearts striker James Wilson is still a teenager. Celtic full-back Colby Donovan was one until turning 20 earlier this month. Even Pocognoli, who has just turned 39, looks disgustingly young.
What is going on? While one hesitates slightly to say this wouldn’t have happened on Clarke’s watch, it almost certainly wouldn’thave. The average age of the current squad is 26, down from nearly 29 at the World Cup. It can’t all be ascribed to Craig Gordon’s retirement.
No wonder Pocognoli felt the need to meet skipper Andy Robertson in person. They spent time together in London, Robertson’s new base at Spurs. The old guard were fiercely loyal to Clarke, rightly so.
“He was really positive about what happened in the past,” reported Pocognoli. “I expect my captain to be behind me and that doesn’t mean they aren’t also behind the previous staff. They were committed and now they want to improve and continue to be successful. It was a nice chat. Informal but I also got information to improve things. It wasn’t about what wasn’t working, I want to make my own perception.”
The trick is to avoid throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The hardly radical proposal is that Scotland will have to learn to live without the likes of Lyndon Dykes and Grant Hanley.
Outcast striker Oli McBurnie’s return is especially eye-catching. It’s safe to say that the resumption of his international hinged on Clarke’s decision to step down as manager.
If Clarke had stayed on, then McBurnie would have remained in cold storage despite Hull City's bright start to life in the Premier League. Although McBurnie has yet to score this season (likewise in 16 caps to date for Scotland), he has been integral to the side’s rise to fourth place in the league after four unbeaten games.
Hull travel to face Newcastle United on Saturday, when McBurnie will be up against Harvey Barnes.
The winger’s name is again being linked with Scotland despite Clarke making it clear before the World Cup that any call-up was a non-starter because Barnes wanted to focus on joining England at the tournament.
Although he was a late addition to the squad for games against Uruguay and Japan in March, manager Thomas Tuchel left Barnes at home for the tournament itself.
Pocognoli would not confirm whether he had sought the player’s current feelings about switching to Scotland having already been capped once by England. “I think the most important thing is that I don't need to convince players to represent their country,” he said.
It’s a healthy viewpoint, one Clarke shared. It would have taken a brave person to broach the subject of Barnes had Pocognoli’s predecessor still been in charge. After such prolonged pressure from certain quarters to recruit a potential game changer, Clarke gave the distinct impression of never wishing to hear Barnes’ name ever again. He understandably preferred to preserve the spirit of fellowship within the squad.
It was only natural that the old manager’s absence felt very marked at Hampden on Tuesday. It was the first time in over seven years that someone else had named a Scotland squad.
Speaking at a dinner in Edinburgh earlier this month, Clarke revealed he had reached out to Pocognoli. The Belgian is grateful to have had this contact. He even welcomes the thought of Clarke coming to games.
“It was important to speak with him,” Pocognoli said. “I contacted him and he was open to have a discussion. It was class from him and I was very happy to have that ten-minute conversation.
“We talked about the national team, the culture,” he continued. “It was not about talking about what was working and what was not. What happened in the past was fantastic but I need to make my own perception.
“But he was talking about his own experience and what it means to represent Scotland. He was really positive about me and very kind, to be honest. I think we will see him around the stadium, which is right given what he achieved in the past.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.