Scotland Men's Football Team

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Luke Graham says he has aspired to be like "fellow lefty" Andy Robertson and now they are international team-mates.

The 22-year-old Stoke City centre-half was previously in the Scotland squad without playing but has been called up by new national head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, with Robertson retaining his place in the squad.

Robertson has now captained his country at three major tournaments and joined Tottenham Hotspur this summer from Liverpool while Graham left Dundee for Stoke.

"It's a very, very proud moment for me and my family," Graham said of his senior international call-up before his club's weekend fixture with Sheffield United.

"One of the main reasons I play football is to hopefully try and play for my country. I've done it at 21s level so far, but to make that step up to the first team is just unbelievable. I mean, I can't really put it into words, really.

"Some of the players that they've got in that national team are Champions League winners, Premier League players. Learning from them will be absolutely vital.

"Andy Robertson, the captain of the country, he's been such a big figure in there for a number of years now. Being a fellow lefty as well, he was always someone that I looked up to and aspired to be like."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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New head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has been speaking to the media after naming his first Scotland squad.

Here are the main points from the news conference:

• Pocognoli, who has handed five first call-ups among seven uncapped players, says on the make-up of his squad: "The most important thing is regarding the style of play I want. My focus is to select the players regarding that. There are a lot of names that can also be on that squad. I think we have a good mix of experience and players going for their first cap and players that are back. The important thing is to have these experienced players who have just passed the DNA, the heritage and also the culture."

• Pocognoli says Brondby defender and captain Luis Binks, who has been capped at youth level by England and Scotland, did not need persuading.

• The Belgian adds: "I don't need to convince the players to play for the country. For me it's timing, the timing was right. The feeling and the timing about him was right. If I have to convince players to play Scotland they will not be there."

• On why he has brought Oli McBurnie back, Pocognoli says: "Regarding style of play, playing time and performance. I have to start on a new journey, a new book, it's a new opportunity for some players. He had a great season last season with Hull, [is now] playing in the Premier League."

• On the youthful look of his squad - seven players are still Under-21 eligible - Pocognoli says: "Just to be clear, I want to do this, but I will never do it just because I want to try a team. Whoever I selected has to perform well."

• He accepts there is "some experimentation you have to do" at the start of his tenure but knows "the most important thing is to continue winning".

• The head coach insists "the door is not closed" on those who have missed out on selection, adding: "When I analysed the squad, I think we have a team that can fit with what I want to implement on the pitch. It doesn't mean what we did in the past was wrong, I just want to bring a different aspect."

• Celtic full-back Colby Donovan, called up for the first time, has been playing well and "needs to improve on things like every young lad".

Sebastien Pocognoli's first Scotland squad selection is in - and there are maiden call-ups for five players as well as a recall for striker Oli McBurnie.

The newcomers are Celtic right-back Colby Donovan, Swansea defender Stephen Welsh, Brondby captain Luis Binks, Hearts winger James McPake and Sevilla striker Robbie Ure.

There is also a place for Stoke defender Luke Graham, with 14 of the 28 players having not been part of this summer's World Cup squad.

Pocognoli's reign begins with a run of four Nations League fixtures, kicking off away to Slovenia on 26 September.

Scotland fans, what do you make of the Belgian's first Scotland squad selection? Let us know your thoughts here.

Manchester United's £73m striker, Benjamin Sesko, is poised to be called up by Slovenia for the first time in a year to face Sebastien Pocognoli in his first game as Scotland head coach. (National - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Former Scotland captain Scott Brown is backing Hearts pair Josh McPake and Calvin Miller to feature in a refreshed national team set-up under Sebastien Pocognoli.

The new head coach will name his maiden squad on Tuesday for an extended international period that includes four Nations League fixtures and starts from the end of this month.

Summer arrivals McPake, signed from St Johnstone, and Miller, who joined from Falkirk, have impressed for Hearts under Wouter Vrancken in the early stages of this season.

And Brown, who played with Miller at Celtic, is convinced both his former team-mate and McPake can make the step up to international football.

"I really like Josh McPake," the ex-midfielder said of the 24-year-old.

"I think he's had a fantastic start to the season. He has managed to step up to the Championship, to the Premiership, and show against top teams that he can do it.

"Now can he go and do that with Scotland as well? I believe that he could do it.

"Calvin Miller as well, the two Hearts lads have done really, really well."

Read more: Who could be named in new-look Scotland squad?

Scotland striker Kieron Bowie, 23, scored his first Sassuolo goal in Sunday's dramatic Serie A win over Juventus, with countryman Josh Doig also featuring in the hosts' 3-2 victory. (Sun, external)

Former Dundee United and Budapest Honved manager Tam Courts has been appointed Scotland Under-19s head coach. (Courier - subscription required, external)

Monday's Scottish gossip

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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John Souttar may yet leave Rangers in the short term, even though the transfer window has closed in Scotland.

The Scotland defender, 29, is under contract until next summer.

"I think he still can [make a contribution]," said Rangers manager Derek McInnes.

"The likelihood is that John's been told his long-term future would be best elsewhere.

"He still has good opportunities. There's still an opportunity to move. There's a couple of windows, a few windows still open across Europe and there is a few things looking possible for John.

"I don't want to speculate how much that is, but I think there one or two things that he's quite keen on and one or two things that's maybe gaining a wee bit of traction."

Souttar joined Rangers in 2022 and has made 132 appearances, scoring four times. He has 366 club games overall and has represented Scotland 24 times, being part of the squad that went to this year's World Cup.

And McInnes added: "There's still that possibility for John to go and get regular football and peace of mind.

"That might be the best option for him, but if he doesn't move and there isn't anything materialises then of course we honour the contract and he comes back into things."

Napoli expect Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay to return from heart surgery in mid-October. (Scotsman - subscription required, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson had agreed to join Rangers this summer, but the Ibrox club failed to put an offer to Bologna, according to father Derek, who does not think the transfer can be revived in January for the 27-year-old. (Open Goal, external)

Former Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has revealed he had to push the Scottish FA to agree a new contract shortly before the World Cup finals this summer because he felt the governing body was hedging its bets. (The Scotsman, external)

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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