Clarke had a straightforward explanation when one man rang him up to ask the question
Scotland manager Steve Clarke(Image: SNS Group / SFA)
Oli McBurnie revealed he rang up Steve Clarke to ask why he was snubbed from the most recent Scotland squad – and received a brutally honest answer.
The Hull City striker won the last of his 16 caps five years ago and hasn’t featured since, after failing to score for his country.He’s been in excellent form for the English Championship side this season after netting an impressive 15 goals in all competitions so far, despite missing two months through injury.
The 29-year-old admitted in a recent sitdown with Record Sport he’s desperate to return to playing for Scotland, with the World Cup coming up in less than two months.
But after being ignored again for the double-header defeats to Japan and Ivory Coast, it’s looking increasingly unlikely.
And he’s now revealed he asked Scotland boss Clarke directly why he didn’t make the squads.
McBurnie said: “I rang the manager when his last squad was getting announced, just to kind of see his feelings on things.
“He said to me that he builds his squads on loyalty and that Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes have done really well for him.
“So he sees those two ahead of me.
“He doesn’t see me as a third or fourth-choice striker, so he’s comparing me against Che and Lyndon, and he sees them ahead of me.
Oli McBurnie of Hull City (Image: Getty Images)
“Listen, I’d do anything to get back into that Scotland squad. I feel like I’m playing as well as I have done in however long, and all I can do is keep performing for Hull and see where it gets me.”
Hull City boss Sergej Jakrovic admitted last month he was ‘very surprised’ his top striker hadn’t received a call.
McBurnie is outscoring the likes of George Hirst and Tommy Conway in the same division but remains unfancied and Jakrovic admitted he’s amazed he hasn’t been called upon.
“I’m very surprised. I don’t know where the problem is there,” he said. “I don’t know, I’m not so involved, I’m just looking at the statistics.
“I’m watching just statistics, and Oli McBurnie has scored more goals than other strikers (in the squad), so this is a fact. I’m not the national team coach, so I don’t know what his idea is.
“He’s ready. He’s now on the reserve list, so he’s there. I think that he showed everything on the pitch. He proved everything on the pitch. If he hadn’t had this injury for six weeks, he would have more goals.”
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