'Unfinished business': Scotland's in-form striker targets top-level return after making 100-game claim
Scotland striker remains hopeful of international recall.
Oli McBurnie says he’s done everything he possibly can to receive an international recall with Scotland, as he addressed his chances of making Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad this summer.
McBurnie, 29, has not played for Scotland since a 4-0 World Cup qualifying win over the Faroe Islands way back on March 31, 2021, but there are amplified calls for him to be handed an international reprieve after his 17 goals helped Hull City qualify for the EFL Championship playoffs.
Having already confessed to holding discussions with the Scotland boss over his international future last month, McBurnie was informed that he was behind both Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams in the pecking order. However, he remains hopeful that he can book a spot on the plane to America next month by firing Hull to promotion back to the English Premier League, a division he feels he ‘belongs’ in.
“We’re all buzzing,” McBurnie told the iPaper. “There’s no fear, we’re just looking forward to it and I just think it’s going to be a special night, an ‘old school’ sort of Friday night game under the lights. It feels like whole city is up for it. There were a few raised eyebrows [when he signed for Hull], for sure, but I don’t like taking the safe option. The manager’s [Sergej Jakirovic] giving me the freedom to go out and play how I want to play and kind of making the game plan about getting balls in the box.”
While Dykes, Adams and Hearts talisman Lawrence Shankland may all be shoo-ins for Clarke’s World Cup squad, the likes of Ipswich Town’s George Hirst, Middlesbrough’s Tommy Conway and Southampton’s Ross Stewart are all vying with McBurnie for a place on the plane after strong campaigns in front of goal.
Despite outscoring all of the aforementioned competitors, McBurnie was not included in the Scotland squad for the friendlies with Japan and the Ivory Coast as his 1,864 days in the international wilderness continued. Despite his obvious disappointment, the Hull marksman says he remains at peace with whatever decision Clarke decides to make after doing all he can to catch his attention this season.
“I’m happy with my efforts,” said McBurnie. “I have done all I can [to get back into the Scotland squad] and ultimately it’s the manager’s decision. I have to respect whichever way he goes. I think I’ve got nearly 100 Premier League games now, probably nearly half of my footballing career has been in the Premier League. The last two out of the three seasons when I was top scorer for Sheffield United in the Premier League and the last year that I was there was really hampered by injuries.
“I think I had maybe six goals, four assists but I only started 14 games or something due to injuries and a couple of suspensions, which might be my own fault. From that I’ve always felt like I could compete at the top level. I do feel like I’ve got unfinished business in the Premier League.”
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