Defender Luis Binks has revealed he experienced no hesitation whatsoever when informed that new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli wanted him included in his inaugural international squad. Having previously represented both Scotland and England at under-21 level, the Brondby captain stands out as one of six players handed their very first senior call-ups ahead of an upcoming block of Nations League fixtures.
The national team faces a rigorous testing period featuring matches against Slovenia, North Macedonia, and Switzerland as they attempt to bounce back from last year’s disappointing relegation. Pocognoli has made it clear that he refuses to beg players to commit to the national team setup, a philosophy that deeply resonates with the 25-year-old defender. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Binks fully endorsed the manager’s uncompromising stance regarding international allegiance and player dedication.
"I think if he had to try and convince me, convince anyone, it’s probably not the right thing for the player," Binks said. "I didn’t need any convincing; I was available. I wanted to play for Scotland. I’ve wanted to play for Scotland for years and now the opportunity has come, I’m just really proud. It’s where you feel your heart is and where you want to go. This was the route I wanted to take."
Binks enters the setup during a period of significant transition. The squad takes on a distinctly new look under Pocognoli, with 12 players who featured in Steve Clarke’s final squad for the World Cup missing out from the roster. While the majority of these absences are tactical decisions by the incoming coaching staff, key figures such as Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland, and Che Adams are unavailable due to injury.
Even though the environment represents a fresh chapter for the national team, Binks will not be entirely unfamiliar with the surroundings. He shares history with several members of the broader Scottish setup from his earlier career developments, noting a past connection with Brentford defender Aaron Hickey.
"It was a few years ago that I was with Aaron Hickey in Bologna and he got called up while we were there," Binks recalled. "I could play for the 21s at the time and nothing ever coming up, but it was always, Scotland was always the one for me that I wanted to go and play for. Going back years ago, under-16s when I went away with Scotland, the vibe was just so good. It felt like a proper team, it was just normal lads and you felt like you were playing with your mates so I knew there was always that feeling around it. I wanted to go and be a part of that again."
The official launch of the Pocognoli era takes place in Ljubljana on Saturday afternoon when Scotland faces Slovenia. That fixture is followed swiftly by a high-profile home encounter against Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later. The demanding autumn schedule continues in October, with the squad flying out to face North Macedonia on October 3 before returning to Glasgow to host Slovenia once more on October 6.
Scotland finds itself competing in the second tier of European international football this term following a demotion from Nations League A, which was sealed by a play-off defeat against Greece late last year. Regaining a foothold among the continent’s elite remains a primary objective, though the current focus rests heavily on bedding in fresh tactical ideas and evaluating emerging talent.
"Obviously we want to get to the A group of the Nations League, but there are a lot of new faces, a lot of new management, new ways of playing," Binks noted. "I know what it’s like because I’ve got a new manager at my club now and it’s taking a bit of time so I imagine it’s the same sort of process here. It’s just about getting the players on board and buying into everything the manager wants to do. It’s been early days, but I think everyone is fully on board and believes in what we can do as a country."
Preparation for these crucial fixtures has already commenced with a training camp in La Manga, where the revamped squad has been working intensively under Pocognoli and his coaching staff. The transitional nature of the squad highlights a generational shift, offering valuable senior experience to a wave of young talent alongside established international mainstays.
The full Scotland squad selected for the upcoming fixtures features goalkeepers Scott Bain of Falkirk, Angus Gunn representing San Jose Earthquakes, Liam Kelly of Rangers, and Jon McCracken from Bradford City.
Defensive options alongside debutant Luis Binks include Josh Doig of Sassuolo, Colby Donovan from Celtic, Luke Graham representing Stoke City, Jack Hendry of Al-Ettifaq, Aaron Hickey of Brentford, Scott McKenna from Dinamo Zagreb, Nathan Patterson of Torino, Andy Robertson representing Tottenham, and Stephen Welsh of Swansea City.
The midfield department boasts Ryan Christie of Bournemouth, Lewis Ferguson from Bologna, Billy Gilmour of Napoli, John McGinn representing Aston Villa, Josh McPake of Hearts, Lennon Miller from Udinese, and Kristie Montgomery of Blackburn Rovers.
Rounding out the selection are forwards Kieron Bowie of Sassuolo, Findlay Curtis from Rangers, Ben Gannon-Doak representing Bournemouth, Oli McBurnie of Hull City, Robbie Ure from Sevilla, and James Wilson of Hearts.
Following the opening matches in late September and early October, Scotland’s Nations League campaign will conclude with concluding group fixtures later in the autumn. The team is scheduled to host North Macedonia on November 13 before concluding the group phase away against Switzerland on November 16.