Gordon Strachan Advocates for Oli McBurnie’s Recall
Gordon Strachan has called for the recall of Oli McBurnie to the Scotland national football team, citing the striker’s impressive performance at Hull City. McBurnie has scored 13 goals in 21 league starts in the English Championship, showcasing his ability to find the net.
McBurnie has not played for Scotland since March 2021, when he came on as a late substitute in a 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory against the Faroe Islands. His last significant contribution to the national team was during a penalty shoot-out against Serbia, which secured Scotland’s place at EURO 2020.
Strachan described McBurnie as “a hungry footballer” and a “brilliant player and tough to stop,” emphasizing his potential to give the opposition a tough game. He highlighted McBurnie’s free-kick ability and physical presence as valuable assets that could benefit the national team.
Despite his club success, McBurnie has not been called up to the national team for over five years, raising questions about his standing in the eyes of current manager Steve Clarke. Strachan’s public urging for McBurnie’s recall underscores a tension between club form and past international performance.
Strachan has been following McBurnie’s career since his time in Under-21s training, and he believes that McBurnie’s presence would trouble defenders accustomed to single-striker systems. As Scotland prepares for upcoming friendlies against Japan at Hampden and the Ivory Coast in Liverpool, the debate over McBurnie’s inclusion continues.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding how Clarke values McBurnie’s traits in comparison to other striker options. It is also unclear whether a recall would lead to starts or bench roles during the friendlies.
