Ure delighted 'unusual route' has earned first Scotland call-up

Robbie Ure is one of six newcomers in Sebastien Pocognoli's first squad; the new head coach takes charge against Slovenia in the Nations League on Saturday; Scotland are also away to North Macedonia with games against Switzerland and Slovenia at Hampden during this international break

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Robbie Ure is delighted his "unusual route" in football has earned him a place in Sebastien Pocognoli's first Scotland squad.

The 22-year-old striker came through the Rangers academy before a lack of first-team opportunities meant a move to Anderlecht in 2023.

A spell at Swedish club IK Sirius followed, where 31 goals in 50 games made him a target for clubs across Europe in the summer.

He signed for LaLiga side Sevilla for an initial fee of £5.5m last month, and his rapid rise has been rewarded with a first senior call-up to the Scotland national team.

"At Rangers I didn't believe I could go further and I needed a step before the step and Anderlecht was able to give me that," he told Sky Sports News.

"Looking back now, it's clear that it was the right decision to make.

"It's a bit unusual for a Scottish player to take that route.

"A lot of people think it's only happened in the last four weeks, but for me it's been three years of working hard and moving to different countries and trying to get that opportunity.

"I did think there would be opportunities with the new gaffer. I'm happy to be involved in his first camp and hopefully I can show him what I can do."

It is a new-look Scotland under Pocognoli, with 12 players who were in Steve Clarke's final squad for the World Cup missing out.

None of the strikers who went to America are included in this squad, and Ure is hoping to take his chance.

"We need to bring a fresh energy, hard work as well and try and play how the new gaffer wants us to play," he added.

"For the strikers, the obvious one is we want to score goals.

"But there's more than that, and we're trying to get as much information and time on the pitch as we can to really implement how the new gaffer wants us to play."

The Pocognoli era officially gets under way in Ljubljana on Saturday, with a game against Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later.

The squad then fly to North Macedonia on October 3 before returning to Glasgow to face Slovenia again on October 6.

Scotland were demoted from Nations League A after a play-off defeat by Greece last year and return to the second tier for this year's competition.

"He wants us to play smart football, identify where the spaces are and be close together as well and a lot more things.

"It's early, and I think as this week and next week go by you'll probably be able to see a little bit more of what he's trying to get across."

Goalkeepers: Scott Bain (Falkirk), Angus Gunn (San Jose Earthquakes), Liam Kelly (Rangers), Jon McCracken (Bradford City).

Defenders: Luis Binks (Brondby), Josh Doig (Sassuolo), Colby Donovan (Celtic), Luke Graham (Stoke City), Jack Hendry (Al Ettifaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Torino), Andy Robertson (Tottenham), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City).

Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese), Kristie Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers).

Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts).

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