Robbie Ure is delighted that his “unusual path” to football has earned him a place in Sebastien Pocognoli’s Scotland first team.
The 22-year-old striker joined 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 La Liga side Sevilla for an initial fee of £5.5m last month and his rapid rise has been rewarded with a senior first call-up to the Scotland national team.
“At Rangers I didn’t believe I could go any further and I needed a step forward 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 around and trying to get that opportunity.
“It’s been a long time, but it’s been nice.
“I thought he would have a chance 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’s a new-look Scotland under Pocognoli, with 12 players missing from Steve Clarke’s final World Cup squad.
This squad does not include any of the strikers who went to America and Ure hopes to take his chance.
Oli McBurnie is included in the Scotland squad for the first time since 2021
“We have to bring a new energy, also hard work and try to play the way the new gaffer wants us to play,” he added.
“For the attackers, it is clear that we want to score goals.
“But there’s more to it than that and we’re trying to get as much information and time on the pitch as we can to really implement the way the new gaffer wants us to play.”
The Pocognoli era officially kicks off in Ljubljana on Saturday, with a game against Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later.
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Brondby defender Luis Binks has spoken to Sky Sports News about his first Scotland call-up under new manager Sebastien Pocognoli.
The team then fly to North Macedonia on October 3 before returning to Glasgow to face Slovenia again on October 6.
Scotland were relegated from Nations League A after a play-off defeat to Greece last year and were relegated to the second tier for this year’s competition.
“He wants us to play smart football, identify where the spaces are and be close to each other and many other things.
“It’s early and I think as this week goes on and next week, you’ll probably be able to see a little bit more of what he’s trying to accomplish.”
Full Scotland squad:
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 (Stiti Stephen).
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese), Kristie Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers).
Attacker: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts).
Scottish Nations League fixtures
Slovenia v Scotland – 26th September, 2pm kick-off
Scotland v Switzerland – September 29, kick-off 19:45
North Macedonia v Scotland – 3 October, kick-off 19:45
Scotland v Slovenia – October 6, kick-off 19:45
Scotland v North Macedonia – November 13, kick-off 19:45
Switzerland v Scotland – November 16, 19:45 kick-off