Oli McBurnie in emotional Scotland reaction after squad recall as alternate motive to 'revenge' detailed

Pocognoli also stressed that the Hull City player is not motivated by a desire to prove anyone wrong. Rather, the striker, cast aside by Steve Clarke, has a burning ambition to prove to himself that he can score goals for Scotland. “He is older, it is a new experience,” Pocognoli said on the subject of McBurnie’s difficulties with the previous manager.

The Hull City forward has been recalled after a half-decade spell on the sidelines amid a deteriorating relationship with Clarke, Pocognoli's predecessor. This period of purdah saw Che Adams establish himself as Scotland’s first choice No 9.

Why has Oli McBurnie been called into the Scotland squad?

The Torino striker is missing from Pocognoli's first squad after suffering a thigh injury. The new manager stressed Adams remains in his plans. Like McBurnie, the forward is the type of player who fits the way the Belgian, appointed last month, wants to play.

But McBurnie now has a golden opportunity to stake his claim to be Scotland’s frontline striker in forthcoming Nations League games against Slovenia (twice), Switzerland and North Macedonia. Lyndon Dykes, a staple of squads since 2020, has been left out.

Pocognoli has chosen to ignore questions about McBurnie’s temperament. He has also disregarded the striker's less than impressive record of no goals in 16 caps to date. The 30-year-old's last appearance was against the Faroe Islands in 2021 under Clarke.

“He was a little bit emotional because he has wanted to come back for a long time,” the Belgian revealed, when asked for details of his initial conversation with McBurnie. “But he does not want to come back with revenge in mind or something like this. He wants to be here in the timeline right now and he is in good shape at Hull right now. He just wants to continue this with the Scotland national team.”

Although McBurnie scored an important penalty in the shootout against Serbia that took Scotland to Euro 2020, Pocognoli could not explain his drought in games.

“He hasn’t scored – I don’t know why!” he said. “It is a long time ago. He is not the same player, there are not the same teammates around him. It is the not the same structure that I want to bring in. I do not know to be honest. What he was doing last season, he has shown he can score goals. What he is doing now with Hull City... he is working hard not only on the ball, but off the ball as well. It is perfect for the game plan of this coach, I can see this.”

McBurnie had already appeared to torpedo his hopes of ever being recalled. He chose to publicly discuss a phone call he made to Clarke in March after being left out of the squad for pre-World Cup friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast. The then manager was not impressed.

Clarke clearly feared the outspoken McBurnie was a potentially disruptive influence. Pocognoli, however, has welcomed the Leeds-born striker’s pugnacious attitude to the extent that he considers McBurnie a contender for inclusion in the international team’s leadership group.

What is Sebastien Pocognoli looking for in his Scotland squad?

“We need this,” he said. “We need personality, a fighter. We need to recognise the leaders on the pitch. If Andy (Robertson) is not there, if John (McGinn) is not there, it can happen. I am not saying Oli will be that kind of leader, we will see. We have a camp. We have four games. We need to prepare for what is coming next and recognise who are the next leaders – or who can help Andy, John, Scott (McTominay) in that function.”

Robbie Ure, Kieron Bowie and James Wilson make up the forward options in the 28-man squad – all three are among 14 players who played no part in Scotland's World Cup adventure, which ended just 12 weeks ago.

Billy Gilmour was not in the United States due to injury. The Napoli midfielder returns. Teammate Scott McTominay is out after undergoing a minor heart procedure. Rangers striker Lawrence Shankland is currently sidelined after injuring his hamstring.

Among six uncapped players called up are Hearts winger Josh McPake and former Dundee defender Luke Graham, now at Stoke City. Gillingham-born defender Luis Binks, who has played for both Scotland and England under-age teams, is included for the first time after impressing with Danish club Brondby, where he is skipper.

Colby Donovan, the Celtic full-back who has made the most of Alistair Johnston’s absence through injury, has also been drafted in alongside his former clubmate Stephen Welsh, now at Swansea City.

“I want to bring a new accent,” said Pocognoli, when asked how he intends Scotland to play. He has already exhibited a healthy inclination for boldness. Scotland head for a warm-weather camp in La Manga at the start of next week before the new era kicks off in earnest against Slovenia in Ljubljana on Saturday week.