"I didn't need any convincing; I was available." Luis Binks says the call from Scotland fitted a decision he had already made. The 25-year-old Brondby centre-half is pushing for a debut against Slovenia on Saturday, and says he spent years at Tottenham wanting first-team football rather than the youth system.

Binks' route to the call-up

He has framed the move to international football as a straight choice, not a recruitment job. "I've wanted to play for Scotland for years, and now the opportunity has come. I'm just really proud," Binks said, while also describing the country as "where you feel your heart is and where you want to go." He added: "This was the route I wanted to take."

That fits the broader career path too. Binks said he was not scared of the unknown when he left Tottenham's pathway behind, because he wanted to play again, compete for titles and cups, and test himself in Europe. He has already taken steps into a bigger role at club level, becoming Brondby's captain after only a year there.

The opening in Scotland's new squad

His first camp comes under Sebastien Pocognoli with a changed group around him. Sky Sports said Binks is one of six newcomers in Pocognoli's first squad, while BBC Sport described him as one of eight uncapped players in the new manager's group. Both accounts point the same way, Scotland are in a reset, and the door is open for Binks to make a case quickly.

Binks spoke about that shift plainly enough. "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," he said. "It's just about getting the players on board and buying into everything the manager wants to do."

The important part for Scotland is simple. Binks is not arriving as a passenger, and he has made the choice over his international future clear before a ball has been kicked in his first camp. The first test is Slovenia on Saturday, and the next step is whether that first call-up turns into his first cap.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →