Kevin Nisbet's Aberdeen renaissance shouldn't go unnoticed by new Scotland boss Sébastien Pocognoli

Sébastien Pocognoli will name his first Scotland squad next month ahead of their 2026 UEFA Nations League campaign which kicks off away to Slovenia on September 26.

They then face Switzerland at home, North Macedonia away and Slovenia again at Hampden Park over the space of a ten day period. With the squad announcement expected around two to three weeks before the first fixture, supporters and pundits have already been speculating about which players the Belgian could look to in order to revitalise the national team ranks.

A major overhaul of the group that got them to their first FIFA World Cup finals in 26 years feels unlikely but there is an expectation that we’ll see one or two different faces either entirely new or returning after a period of absence. One area of the pitch where that feels most likely is up front.

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Oli McBurnie is hotly tipped to earn a place for the first time since November 2023. The former Sheffield United forward won the last of his 16 caps in 2021 but scored 19 goals for Hull City last season to help them gain promotion to England’s Premier League.

It will be hard to ignore the 30-year-old, who started for the Tigers in their 2-0 season opening win against Manchester United, if he can hit the goal trail in one of the world’s most prestigious leagues. However, Pocognoli may also want to look closer to home in the Scottish Premiership with another forgotten Scotland striker having already started banging in the goals for his club.

Kevin Nisbet, who was named the new club captain at Aberdeen for the 2026/27 season, has scored nine goals in seven games already for the Dons. Of course, that comes with the massive caveat that six of those have come against lower league opponents in the Premier Sports Cup group stages.

However, the former Hibs man also netted from the penalty spot in the opening round of the Premiership to beat Hearts and bagged a brace against Dundee in the League Cup round of 16. Form like that certainly merits the 29-year-old being in the conversation for a return to the national team.

The Dons skipper has not received a call-up since October 2024 and won the last of his caps in 2023 as injury derailed his career. However, Scottish fans who have followed Nisbet are well aware that once the former Raith Rovers man finds his confidence and starts hitting the back of the net he can be a real asset to any side including the national team.

With Lawrence Shankland’s start to life at Rangers having not been the most inspiring, George Hirst dropping back into the Championship after leaving newly-promoted Ipswich Town for Stoke City, and Lyndon Dykes’ career at Millwall so far amounting to two late substitute appearances it would be easy enough for Pocognoli to justify a freshening up of the forwards. He may even look to the future with the likes of James Wilson or Kieron Bowie but an experienced campaigner with leadership credentials would be a helpful addition.

Scotland boss will have close eye on potential call-ups as Aberdeen get set to face Rangers and Celtic

Aberdeen face Rangers at Pittodrie this weekend before a trip to Celtic Park next midweek. They then have a double header against Kilmarnock all likely before the Nations League squad is announced.

If Nisbet can continue his early season goalscoring form in those matches, particularly against the Old Firm clubs, then it would feel incredibly harsh to see him omitted unless others also happen to hit the goal trail over the next few weeks. Either way, he has already done enough to be in the conversation.

Nobody is suggesting that he’s the long term solution to the Scotland’s goalscoring issues that has seen them net just four in nine matches across their last three major final appearances. We’ll need to look further into the future and hope for big things from the likes of the aforementioned Wilson and Bowie as well as other younger strikers such as Robbie Ure, now in La Liga with Sevilla, and Middlesborough’s Tommy Conway for that.

However, in the short term, picking players in form is always a safe bet for a national team boss. If it doesn’t work out then Nisbet can simply just return to the international wilderness when and if the goals start to dry up at Aberdeen.

If Pocognoli does turn to the Dons’ skipper though then, at the very least, he will have a useful ‘penalty box striker’ in his ranks to call upon. If Nisbet takes his chance, should it be offered to him, then he could prove a useful asset for the Nations League campaign and potentially beyond into UEFA Euro 2028 qualifying.

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