Hull's Wembley hero McBurnie - the striker Scotland can do without?
Image source, Getty ImagesOli McBurnie has made 16 senior appearances for Scotland
- Published23 minutes ago
There was already scrutiny over Steve Clarke's decision to omit Oli McBurnie from Scotland's World Cup squad.
After Saturday at Wembley, there might be much, much more.
McBurnie was Hull City's match-winning, promotion-winning hero - their new Dean Windass, in less spectacular but arguably far more dramatic fashion.
The 29-year-old Scot pounced on a mistake by Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn in the fifth minute of stoppage time to score the only goal of the Championship play-off final.
It sent the Tigers back to English football's top flight after a 10-year absence.
His Wembley winner came just four days after the 19-goal forward was omitted from Clarke's squad for this summer's global extravaganza in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
So while he may not be going to the World Cup with Scotland, McBurnie is going to the Premier League with Hull.
"I am quite pleased he is not going to the World Cup because now he can rest, " Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic told BBC Sport.
"He had a conversation with the head coach (Clarke) and it was explained to him what the situation was.
"He scores goals - but this [selection] is the job of an international coach and I respect that."
After naming his squad, Clarke intimated the player maybe did not fit into the type of character he wanted in his squad.
"You got the sense McBurnie could have scored a hat-trick in every game in the last two months of the season and Clarke would have been unmoved," wrote BBC chief sports reporter Tom English.
"Maybe he doesn't fancy him as a footballer, maybe he doesn't fancy him as a human being. Whatever."
Jakirovic, however, believes McBurnie is a positive influence in the Hull dressing room.
"He is a leader - he is different and has so much experience in the Championship and creates fear in opponents," the Croatian said of his former Swansea and Sheffield United forward.
Image source, Getty ImagesOli McBurnie's goal against Middlesbrough was his 19th of the season
McBurnie joined Hull City in August after a year playing for Las Palmas in Spain ended in relegation from La Liga.
He admitted at the time he was only returning to England to be part of something which excited him and he has more than repaid the faith shown in him by boss Jakirovic.
"There's something to be said for a team and a manager that really wants you," McBurnie said when first signing for the club.
"When I spoke to the manager, the first thing he said to me was, 'can you score me 15 goals?'"
Having started his career with Bradford City, McBurnie's career took off at Swansea where he scored 22 goals in 58 league appearances before making a £20m move to Sheffield United in 2019.
He played for five years under Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane and Jakirovic admits had circumstances been different in August, the Leeds-born forward would not be celebrating promotion with Hull.
"I know if Wilder is the manager of Sheffield United at the start of the season then Oliver McBurnie would be playing for Sheffield United, 100%," Jakirovic said.
"I spoke to Chris twice during the season and it was very, very interesting. He is very experienced in the Championship and he has also congratulated us."
Scotland have selected Che Adams (Torino), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts) and Ross Stewart (Southampton) as their striking options for the World Cup, leaving Hull's talisman to rest and recuperate over the summer ready for another go at the Premier League.
"Sometimes football is a game of opinions and I feel like I have given myself as good a chance as I could to get into the squad and at the end of the day, it is the manager's decision and I have to respect that," McBurnie told Sky Sports in the immediate aftermath of the Wembley win.
"Some of those boys are my best friends so I will be supporting them somewhere warm with a beer."
That beer will taste all the sweeter with a play-off winners' medal around his neck.
'The difference maker' and 'pressure handler'
Jakirovic becomes the third boss to lead the Tigers into the Premier League - after Phil Brown and Steve Bruce.
Brown, working as an analyst at the final for BBC Radio 5 Live, said McBurnie was a "very intelligent striker" who may well not get the credit he deserves.
"He is one of those players that doesn't carry the eye of being a great footballer but what a great scorer he is," Brown said.
"If he is in the right area at the right time, he will put the ball into the back of the net to the benefit of his team."
McBurnie scored the winner but also came closest to breaking the deadlock before that with a first-half header that hit the crossbar.
Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff called him "the difference maker", adding: "He didn't have a lot to do in the game, was almost marked out of it - but when his moment came, he was there to do it and he's taken Hull to the Premier League."
But the final word must go to McBurnie's boss - at club level.
"I saw in the play-off he can handle pressure easily - he is ready for these sorts of games," Jakirovic added.
"He scored [on the final day of the season when Hull needed to win to make the top six] against Norwich which was almost a play-off game for us."
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