Scotland World Cup hopefuls fire fresh reminder to Steve Clarke by playing major roles in dramatic night
Scotland duo come up trumps again for EFL Championship outfits.
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke received a valuable reminder of the striking options available to him for the World Cup this summer, as two squad hopefuls extended their impressive scoring runs.
Clarke, 62, revealed last month that FIFA requires him to select a 55-man preliminary squad by May 11, meaning a number of players on the fringes of the squad could get an unexpected opportunity to impress before the tournament begins in June - and leading EFL Championship forwards Oli McBurnie and Ross Stewart appear determined to stay in his thoughts.
Currently involved in a major promotion scrap in the English second tier, both strikers came up trumps for their clubs in Tuesday night’s EFL Championship fixtures to keep themselves in the hunt for one of the four desired playoff spots.
McBurnie, who last week claimed he’d had contact with Clarke to discuss an international recall, has been in fine form for Hull City for the entire campaign and found the net for the 16th time this season against Leicester City. Having taken the lead through a Liam Millar strike in the 18th minute, the Tigers were pegged back by two quickfire goals from Jordan James (pen 52) and Luke Thomas (54).
However, McBurnie rescued a draw for Hull in the 63rd minute when his right-footed shot found the bottom left corner to seal a valuable 2-2 draw. The result leaves Hull level on points with Wrexham in sixth, and just outside the playoff positions, while it also condemned Gary Rowett’s Leicester to back-to-back relegations. They’ll spend next season playing in the English third tier for only the second time in their 142-year history.
Meanwhile, Southampton forward Stewart reached double figures for the first time since the 2022/23 season, while at Sunderland, as he found the net for the tenth time this season. The Saints, who are just three points away from the automatic promotion places, were searching for a ninth successive win at home to Bristol City, but went behind after just five minutes at St Mary’s when Ryan Manning turned into his own net to give the Robins the lead. Canadian striker Cyle Larin levelled for the hosts just before the half-hour mark.
Promotion-chasing Southampton looked set to suffer their first defeat in 20 games when Roy Hodgson’s side deservedly went back in front through winger Sam Bell in the 63rd. However, former Ross County hitman Stewart saved his side’s blushes, heading home Tom Fellows’ teasing cross just three minutes after being introduced to the field as a substitute for James Bree.
Speaking to the Daily Record about a Scotland recall earlier this week, Stewart said: “Going back to the last time I was called up [in 2022}, it is the highest achievement you can have in football, playing for your country. Since then, I’ve missed the feeling and I’ve always been desperate to get back. Hopefully my form over the last two months, Steve [Clarke] has noticed. I’ve just got to keep trying to produce over the next few months.
“Every striker that’s been about Scotland at international level would be lying if they said they didn’t want to go - and I’m no different. I know I haven’t been in there, and hopefully that is just because of the injuries. But if I can stay and produce the levels that I have been over the last few months, hopefully I can give Steve a decision. If I got the call-up, I’d love to go. It’s been in my head and certainly something I’ve been aiming for.”
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