Sebastien Pocognoli has wasted no time putting his stamp on Scotland after naming five players for their first full international call-ups.
Sevilla striker Robbie Ure and Brondby defender Luis Binks headline the new faces in Pocognoli’s first Scotland squad.
Celtic defender Colby Donovan, Hearts winger Josh McPake and Swansea City defender Stephen Welsh have also earned their first full call-ups as the new head coach prepares for his opening Nations League assignment.
Scotland begin the new era away to Slovenia on September 26.
That match will mark Pocognoli’s first game in charge and the start of a demanding run that includes three more Nations League fixtures.
Switzerland will visit Scotland before Pocognoli’s side travel to North Macedonia. Slovenia will then return to Hampden for another meeting with Scotland.
The new boss has already shown a willingness to look beyond the familiar names, with several players receiving an opportunity to establish themselves at international level.
One of the most notable selections is Ure, who has impressed enough at Sevilla to earn his first senior Scotland call-up.
Binks is another fresh addition, with the Brondby defender now given the chance to step into the international setup.
Donovan, McPake and Welsh complete the group of five players receiving their first full Scotland call-ups under Pocognoli.
There is also a welcome return for Hull City striker Oli McBurnie.
McBurnie has not represented Scotland since 2021, but his performances have earned him a long-awaited recall as Pocognoli begins reshaping the squad.
The goalkeeper department has also undergone a change following Craig Gordon’s decision to retire after the World Cup.
Scott Bain and Jon McCracken have both returned to the Scotland squad, giving Pocognoli two more options between the posts.
Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour is another familiar face back in the fold.
Gilmour missed out on the World Cup squad because of a knee injury but has now returned to international contention after recovering.
His recent workload will also give Scotland supporters plenty of encouragement.
The Napoli midfielder played the full 90 minutes against Arsenal in the Champions League before completing another 90 minutes in Napoli’s 1-0 Serie A victory over Bologna on Sunday.
However, Pocognoli’s first squad also comes with some notable absentees.
Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay is missing as he continues his recovery from minor heart surgery.
Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland is also unavailable because of a hamstring problem, while Torino forward Che Adams is sidelined with an injury.
Those absences could give even more weight to Pocognoli’s decision to introduce new players into the squad.
The Scotland manager now has a clear opportunity to build a new identity around a blend of established internationals and emerging talent.
The opening fixture against Slovenia will provide the first real indication of what that looks like on the pitch.
Scotland will then face Switzerland at home before travelling to North Macedonia, with Slovenia visiting Hampden in the fourth Nations League match.
It is a packed opening schedule for Pocognoli, but the new Scotland boss has already made one thing clear through his squad selection.
The door is open.
Five players have walked through it for the first time, McBurnie has returned after five years away, and several familiar names are back after injury or retirement changes.
Now comes the difficult part.
Pocognoli must turn those selection decisions into results when Scotland begin their new chapter against Slovenia on September 26.
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