“I’ve wanted to play for Scotland for years, and now the opportunity has come. I’m just really proud.”
Defender Luis Binks has played at under-21 level for both Scotland and England, but insisted he did not hesitate when new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli said he wanted him in his first squad.
The Brondby captain is one of six players handed their first full call-ups for the Nations League games against Slovenia, North Macedonia and Switzerland.
Pocognoli has said he will not beg players to choose Scotland, something the 25-year-old agrees with.
“I think if he had to try and convince me, convince anyone, it’s probably not the right thing for the player,” Binks told Sky Sports News.
“I didn’t need any convincing; I was available.
“I wanted to play for Scotland. I’ve wanted to play for Scotland for years and now the opportunity has come, I’m just really proud.
“It’s where you feel your heart is and where you want to go. This was the route I wanted to take.”
It is a new-look Scotland under Pocognoli with 12 players who were in Steve Clarke’s final squad for the World Cup missing out, only Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams through injury.
And while it’s a new environment for Binks, there are some familiar faces within the camp.
“It was a few years ago that I was with Aaron Hickey in Bologna and he got called up while we were there.
Aaron Hickey has 22 caps for Scotland
“I could play for the 21s at the time and nothing ever coming up but it was always, Scotland was always the one for me that I wanted to go and play for.
“Going back years ago, under 16s when I went away with Scotland, the vibe was just so good.
“It felt like a proper team, it was just normal lads and you felt like you were playing with your mates so I knew there was always that feeling around it. I wanted to go and be a part of that again.”
The Pocognoli era officially gets underway in Ljubljana on Saturday, with a game against Switzerland at Hampden Park three days later.
The squad then fly to North Macedonia on October 3 before returning to Glasgow to face Slovenia again on October 6.
The Scotland players are training in La Manga ahead of their Nations League opener
Scotland were demoted from Nations League A after a play-off defeat by Greece last year and return to the second tier for this year’s competition.
“Obviously we want to get to the A group of the Nations League but there are a lot of new faces, a lot of new management, new ways of playing,” Binks added.
“I know what it’s like because I’ve got a new manager at my club now and it’s taking a bit of time so I imagine it’s the same sort of process here.
“It’s just about getting the players on board and buying into everything the manager wants to do.
“It’s been early days, but I think everyone is fully on board and believes in what we can do as a country.”
Scotland squad in full:
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 (Tottenham), Stephen Welsh (Swansea City)
Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Josh McPake (Hearts), Lennon Miller (Udinese), Kristie Montgomery (Blackburn Rovers)
Forwards: Kieron Bowie (Sassuolo), Findlay Curtis (Rangers), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Oli McBurnie (Hull City), Robbie Ure (Sevilla), James Wilson (Hearts)
Scotland’s Nations League fixtures
Slovenia vs Scotland – September 26, kick-off 2pm
Scotland vs Switzerland – September 29, kick-off 7.45pm
N. Macedonia vs Scotland – October 3, kick-off 7.45pm
Scotland vs Slovenia – October 6, kick-off 7.45pm
Scotland vs N. Macedonia – November 13, kick-off 7.45pm
Switzerland vs Scotland – November 16, kick-off 7.45pm
