Seb Pocognoli’s November Scotland Men’s National Team (SMNT) squad will be announced tomorrow. Following our article on FBs, in the 3rd of our series of pre-squad announcement articles, we explore Scotland centre backs to assess who is likeliest for a call up. With some centre backs from the last Scotland squad facing injury challenges, there’s potentially places up for grabs.
Published stats are as at date of article publication. Stats in linked sources change with passage of time.
Luis Binks
| Age | 25 (02.09.2001) |
| Current club | Brøndby |
| Current club division | Danish 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 79.4 (14th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 3 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | Yes |
12 September update
Binks’ move to Denmark in the Summer of 2025 has gone well for him; regular first team football & this season also the on-field captaincy (Daniel Wass was announced as taking on a new role as club captain, to help mentor Brøndby’s upcoming leaders). Binks is turning out good numbers while playing in a division with a good standard of football.
Born in England with a maternal grandfather from Dunbar, Binks represented Scotland & England at age group level. As a sign of his increased confidence since moving to Denmark, he has spoken numerous times of his ambition to represent Scotland as a full internationalist. Going by the standard of his club performances, he could well be named in the Scotland squad next week.
Latest update
Binks has fulfilled his stated ambition of becoming a full Scotland internationalist. He & fellow CB, Stephen Welsh, are generally considered to have done well in Pocognoli’s first international break. Binks was thus in line to retain his squad place.
After subsequently missing 3 club games through injury, Binks returned to match action yesterday. However, he subbed off in the 64th min in that 2-0 home win v Aarhus. However, Binks stated post match:
“Right now I feel no pain. After what I noticed, I could run around, but I just didn’t want to push it because of course there is a fight next week [the derby game v FC Copenhagen] and a few big matches ahead. So yes, it was just a cramp.”
Stuart Findlay
| Age | 31 (14.09.1995) |
| Current club | Heart of Midlothian |
| Current club division | Scottish 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 74.8 (39th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 1 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | No |
12 September update
Findlay is generally perceived as having been a solid performer at CB for Hearts since joining Hearts in the Summer of 2025. Now on the cusp of his 31st birthday this month, his sole full cap was 7 years ago. With younger emerging prospects in this list looking genuinely realistic prospects for a first call up, Findlay would be lucky to make the cut for the Scotland squad announced next week.
Latest update
Now 31, Findlay’s reduction in status at Hearts has further eroded his international prospects. Specifically, he hasn’t played in any of Hearts’ last 6 games. The best he has managed in those 6 games is 3 unused appearances on the bench.
Luke Graham
| Age | 22 (11.02.2004) |
| Current club | Stoke City |
| Current club division | English 2nd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 80.6 (10th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 1 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | Yes |
12 September update
Graham is hoped by many to have a bright future ahead of him in a Scotland jersey. He transferred from Dundee to Stoke in the Summer & will be understandably hoping for a call up next week to the Scotland squad.
Latest update
As per Binks, Graham also is now a full Scotland internationalist. In Graham’s case his sole cap so far was an 88th min sub appearance, bolstering the defence weakened by Scott McKenna’s red card in North Macedonia. Scott McKenna’s injury prospectively moves Graham up the Scotland CB pecking order.
Graham has started all of Stoke’s most recent 10 games. FotMob rates him at an impressive 7.19.
Craig Halkett
| Age | 31 (29.05.1995) |
| Current club | Heart of Midlothian |
| Current club division | Scottish 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 74.8 (39th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | No |
12 September update
Halkett earning a place in the 2025/26 PFA Scotland Team of the Season speaks much of the form he was in. However, a ruptured Achilles has him sidelined until 2027. He won’t obviously be considered for a Scotland squad before then.
Latest update
No change. And with younger players establishing themselves in the squad, Halkett faces the prospect of ending his career without joining the ranks of Scotland centre backs.
Grant Hanley
| Age | 34 (20.11.1991) |
| Current club | Hibernian |
| Current club division | Scottish 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 74.8 (39th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 70 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | No |
12 September update
34-year-old and in the twilight of his career, Hanley’s committed, over-my-dead-body penalty box defending made him a favourite of Steve Clarke. With Pocognoli now the boss though and with comments made about bringing younger players through, it’s very unlikely Grant Hanley will be in a Scotland squad again.
Hanley is 12th in the Scotland Men’s National Team all time appearances list with 70 caps. He was one of the few Scots playing at Euro 2024 to emerge with credit. He can also look back on a Scotland career that included playing at a World Cup.
Latest update
Could injuries to others open the door for Hanley’s recall? Almost certainly not given Hanley is a squad player at Hibs. He played only 11 mins in his 2 appearances in Hibs’ last 5 games, subbing on in both occasions. Even then, he was deployed as an emergency CF when he subbed on last weekend v Celtic.
Hanley is 35 later this month. While very unlikely to add to his cap tally, his place as the all time 12th most capped SMNT player is not under immediate threat. That is since Kenny McLean & Kieran Tierney have 61 & 58 caps respectively. Among Scotland centre backs in history, only Alex McLeish & Tom Boyd have more caps than Hanley.
Jack Hendry
| Age | 31 (07.05.1995) |
| Current club | Al-Ettifaq |
| Current club division | Saudi 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 74.7 (40th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 44 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | Yes |
12 September update
3 years on from his money-spinning move to Saudi, Hendry continues to play for Al-Ettifaq. A wholesale clear out seems unlikely with the Scotland squad announced next week. Hendry will be hoping to keep his Scotland squad place.
Latest update
While there was a substantial clear out in Pocognoli’s first squad, Hendry kept his place. However, regrettably Hendry’s most memorable contribution in that break was his 10th min, straight red card v Switzerland. Debates have swirled as to how much of that red card should be attributed to Hendry, & how much should be attributed to Pocognoli’s tactics of playing a back 3 in a high line.
Hendry remains a first team regular for his club in Saudi & is unlikely to lose his place in the squad announced tomorrow.
Dominic Hyam
| Age | 30 (20.12.1995) |
| Current club | Wrexham |
| Current club division | English 2nd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 80.6 (10th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 4 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | No |
12 September update
Arguably the player to have suffered most by overloyalty in player selection in the 2nd half of the Steve Clarke reign, is Dom Hyam. Hyam’s trademark was durability against injury combined with churning out consistent, solid stats in performance after performance. No Scotsman was playing CB at a higher club level than him, finishing one place out of the English 2nd tier playoff spots in 3 of the last 4 seasons.
And so the irony of life. A new Scotland boss comes in meaning a clean slate for everyone, and with data set to play a bigger part of the Scotland setup. However, Hyam’s performance stats for his club have dropped. He is still Wrexham club captain. He was though benched for Wrexham’s visit to West Ham United last night. Hyam subbed on in the 67th minute in a 6-0 loss as high-flying West Ham moved to top of the table. The Scotland squad on Tuesday could well be minus his name.
Latest update
Hyam was reported stating when missing out on Pocognoli’s first squad:
“It is a little bit tough. There’s a bit of change in the set-up with the new manager. But my immediate reaction was disappointment, I can’t lie.”
Hyam remains a Wrexham first team regular. FotMob currently rate him at 6.79 making him likely when considering other options, under consideration for a recall. With McKenna (below) injured, these are permutations for Scotland centre backs in the next break:
- With 2 games rather than 4 in the next international window, Pocognoli feels no need to add CB cover to replace McKenna
- Pocognoli gives Kieran Tierney, or much less likely Josh Doig, game time at LCB
- McKenna keeps his squad place with Pocognoli hoping McKenna is fit for the 2nd game in the international break
- Poco calls up another CB of which Hyam is 1 of the 2 most likely candidates along with a player listed further below
Liam Lindsay
| Age | 31 (12.10.1995) |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| Current club | Preston North End |
| Current club division | English 2nd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 80.6 (10th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | No |
12 September update
Lindsay’s solitary Scotland squad call-up was for Nations League games in October 2024. Underwhelming performances this season led to his benching for Preston’s 2 most recent games. He subbed on in neither of those 2 games. Like Findlay & Halkett, age isn’t on his side in terms of breaking into the Scotland squad.
Latest update
Little change for Lindsay. He has a solitary 56 min appearance to his name in Preston’s last 9 games. Lindsay joining the ranks of full cap Scotland centre backs is increasingly unlikely with each passing day.
Scott McKenna
| Age | 29 (12.11.1996) |
| Current club | Dinamo Zagreb |
| Current club division | Croatian 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 78.4 (23rd globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 54 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | Yes |
12 September update
Dinamo Zagreb have strategically benched McKenna three times this season. He did not feature in any of those 3 games. All 3 of those games were immediately before Dinamo had a Champions League game to play. Like Hanley, McKenna now being above the 50 cap mark, has his name in the Scotland International Roll of Honour. He likely has many more Scotland squad appearances in him.
Latest update
Like Hendry, McKenna’s most memorable contribution in the previous international break regrettably was being red carded. In McKenna’s case that was dealing with a hospital pass from Andy Robertson away in North Macedonia. Subsequently with his club, McKenna injured a muscle in training on 26 October. Dinamo boss, Mario Kovačević, stated on 30 October:
“Scott McKenna will most likely be out for two weeks with an injury, that is, until the break in the league calendar.”
The Glasgow Times report McKenna is “almost certain” to miss out. Scotland play North Macedonia at Hampden 13 November & Switzerland 3 days later in St Gallen. As mentioned re Hyam, could McKenna keep his squad place with Poco hoping McKenna is fit to play the Swiss?
Liam Morrison
| Age | 23 (07.04.2003) |
| Current club | Queen’s Park Rangers |
| Current club division | English 2nd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 80.6 (10th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | No |
12 September update
Liam Morrison last season was inconsistent for QPR & then inconsistent in his 1/2 season loan to Aberdeen. In 7 QPR games this season, the best Morrison has managed is twice being an unused sub. Otherwise, he hasn’t made the matchday squad this season. Morrison needs a move before he is realistically considered by Pocognoli for a Scotland squad.
Latest update
No change for Morrison with no first team minutes since 1st August. Sometimes he makes the QPR match day squad, sometimes he doesn’t. Morrison with his glamour move to Bayern was once considered among the brightest of age group Scotland centre backs. However, at the moment he’d do well just to get first team football for a club.
Ben Nelson
| Age | 22 (18.03.2004) |
| Current club | Leicester City |
| Current club division | English 3rd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 74.3 (44th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 0 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | No |
12 September update
6 foot 5 tall, big Ben was on the lookout for a transfer following Leicester’s relegation last season to the English 3rd tier. Leicester were reported rejecting a bid from Torino in Serie A, with interest in Nelson from both Manchester City & Manchester United. The obvious Man City connection is new boss Enzo Maresca, who reportedly was impressed while managing Nelson at Leicester.
Nelson has age group caps for England, subsequent to his solitary age group cap for Scotland. He won’t though be switching back or named in a Scotland squad soon. Nelson captained Leicester throughout their pre-season. Against Genoa in their final warm-up game, Nelson ruptured his ACL & is out of action until 2027.
Latest update
Unsurprisingly given the severity of his injury, no change in status for Nelson.
Ryan Porteous
| Age | 27 (25.03.1999) |
| Current club | Los Angeles FC |
| Current club division | American 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 79.1 (17th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 13 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | No |
12 September update
Ryan Porteous was posting good performance stats until injury meant he missed the last 2 LAFC games. Porteous is reported to have protested his exclusion from their most recent squad. Hence it seems his injury is short term.
Porteous is something of an enigma. He has ability to pass the ball out of defence that few of his Scots peers can offer. However, he seems unable to stop himself intermittently making impulsive, dangerous tackles that risk him being sent off.
Somewhat infamously, he earned a straight red card & cost Scotland a penalty versus Germany in the opening game of Euro 2024. Steve Clarke trusted Porteous with match minutes only once after that, 9 months later in the Nations League playoff 1-0 win in Athens in March of 2025. Porteous subbed on in the 89th minute. 2 minutes later Porteous unleashed another of those impulsive dangerous tackles. Clarke in the rest of his time as boss, never again selected Porteous for a Scotland squad.
Porteous like Oli McBurnie likely saw the change of Scotland boss as an opportunity for international resurrection. Alan Irvine continuing as deputy boss from the Clarke era into the Pocognoli era, may or may not have something to say about that.
Latest update
Porteous remains first choice with his club & generally continues to post good numbers. E.g., FotMob currently rate him at 7.01. Hence if Pocognoli does call up a CB who didn’t make the October squad, Hyam & Porteous statistically seem the only realistic candidates. Porteous according to FotMob is in the better form of the 2. However, Hyam according to Opta plays in a higher standard division.
When Pocognoli looks at options for Scotland centre backs, does he feel Porteous’ history presents too much of a red card risk? Poco already had more red cards than he’d have liked in the last international break.
John Souttar
| Age | 30 (25.09.1996) |
| Current club | Rangers |
| Current club division | Scottish 1st tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 74.8 (39th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 24 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | No |
12 September update
Info in the above table is potentially out of date as soon as published. Specifically, Souttar is reportedly in Greece this weekend for a medical with Aris Thessaloniki. Should the transfer go through in time, he could be in contention for the Thessaloniki derby game visit to PAOK on Monday. Souttar hasn’t been in a Rangers match day squad since Derek McInnes took the helm at Ibrox. The November Scotland squad seems a more realistic target for Souttar, when perhaps by then he has first team minutes to his name this season.
Latest update
Souttar’s transfer fell through & he is still on the books at Rangers. He is though in limbo there in that he has not yet been named by Derek McInnes in a Rangers match day squad. Souttar more than anyone in this list needs a move to attain first team football.
Stephen Welsh
| Age | 26 (19.01.2000) |
| Current club | Swansea City |
| Current club division | English 2nd tier |
| Club division Opta rating | 80.6 (10th globally) |
| Full Scotland caps | 4 |
| In most recent SMNT squad? | Yes |
12 September update
Welsh carried over his good form on loan last season at Jens Berthel Askou’s much admired Motherwell side, into the start of this season for Swansea. Swansea are currently 3rd after 6 games, ahead of their home game later today against Burnley. Welsh has been one of Swansea’s best players so far this season.
Latest update
Generally, so far so good for Welsh this season. Like Binks in the previous international break, Welsh was viewed as a welcome addition among Scotland centre backs. He remains firmly part of Swansea’s first team setup who after topping the division are currently 2nd. In a rare blemish for Welsh at Swansea so far; he subbed off with Elijah Just at HT in Swansea’s 5-0 thumping by QPR 9 days ago. However, for the most part he is doing well there reflected by FotMob currently rating him at 7.22.
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