Oli McBurnie: New Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli recalls striker & names seven uncapped players in squad

Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, 29, is unavailable, having recently had minor heart surgery.

Of the 28 named in this squad, 14 were part of this summer’s World Cup.

Goalkeepers Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly, defenders Jack Hendry, Aaron Hickey, Scott McKenna, Nathan Patterson, Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney, midfielders Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, John McGinn and Kenny McLean and forwards Findlay Curtis and Ben Gannon-Doak are all retained.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon has retired while Grant Hanley has recently returned to fitness at Hibernian while Rangers defender John Souttar has not played this season amid reports linking him with Aris Thessaloniki.

Defenders Dominic Hyam and Anthony Ralston, midfielder Tyler Fletcher and forwards Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst and Ross Stewart miss out.

Since Pocognoli was announced as Clarke’s successor – the former Kilmarnock manager having resigned after the Scots failed to qualify for the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time – the expectation was that the Belgian would look to freshen up an ageing squad.

Pocognoli will take charge of Scotland for the first time on Saturday, 26 September in the Scots’ Nations League B opener against Slovenia and his debut in the Hampden dugout will be three days later against Switzerland.

A trip to face North Macedonia on 3 October follows before a home tie with Slovenia three days afterwards.