The 25‑year‑old centre‑back, who captains Danish side Brøndby, has previously featured for both Scotland and England at under‑21 level, but said he did not need any persuasion when Pocognoli invited him to the senior squad, adding that he has wanted to represent Scotland for years.
Pocognoli, appointed as Scotland’s head coach earlier this month, stressed that he will not “beg” dual‑nationality players to choose Scotland – a stance Binks welcomed, saying it respects a player’s personal decision.
Binks is one of six players receiving their first full Scotland caps, with five newcomers overall, as the new‑look side leaves out 12 members of Steve Clarke’s World Cup‑ending squad; only Scott McTominay, Lawrence Shankland and Che Adams miss out through injury.
Scotland’s Pocognoli era kicks off in Ljubljana on Saturday with a Nations League tie against Slovenia, followed three days later by a home match against Switzerland at Hampden Park, then a trip to North Macedonia on Oct 3 and a return to Glasgow to face Slovenia again on Oct 6.
The team were relegated from Nations League A after a play‑off loss to Greece last year and now compete in League B, with the new coach and fresh faces hoping to regain top‑tier status.
Binks likened the transition to his recent club change, saying it will take time for players to adapt to new tactics, but expressed confidence that the squad is “fully on board” and eager to help Scotland return to the A group.