City could have a number of players involved in next summer’s World Cup
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic has backed star striker Oli McBurnie to force his way into the Scotland squad for next summer’s World Cup.
McBurnie hasn’t represented the Tartan Army in four years, but his electric form in the early weeks of the season for City saw him drafted onto Steve Clarke’s reserve list for the international camps in September and October.
The striker’s impressive early-season progress was curtailed when he suffered a calf injury in the second half of the 3-2 win at Birmingham City on October 18, and he’s not played for the Tigers since.
It’s hoped the 29-year-old could return next weekend against Middlesbrough and end a lengthy exile from Championship football, but Jakirovic, who worked hard to bring the ex-Sheffield United striker to the MKM Stadium in the summer, believes his key man has every chance of being part of Scotland’s first World Cup since 1998, if he can stay fit.
“Of course (he has a chance). If Oli will be healthy, which I’m positive about, I expect that he will go to the World Cup. He has already shown in this league that he’s a very good player, and he showed a very high quality. He’s scored a lot of goals. I saw Lyndon Dykes is there from Birmingham, so there is also a chance for Oli as well.”
While John Egan and his Republic of Ireland colleagues must navigate a play-off semi-final tie with Czechia before a potential final with Denmark or North Macedonia, and Amir Hadziahmetovic must overcome Wales in Cardiff, there’s no such jeopardy for Ivor Pandur.
The City stopper was drafted into his first senior squad earlier this month, and though he didn’t get off the bench, he has put himself firmly in the shop window for a place on the plane to North America, Canada and Mexico next summer.
“It’s rare that you can go to the World Cup,” Jakirovic continued. “This is something I think is the best in football. Egan will fight (in the play-offs). Amir (Hadziahmetovic) will fight as well with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kasey (Palmer) has one more chance (play-offs vs New Caledonia). It’s good to have national team players, and also, if they qualify for the World Cup, it will be perfect.
“A lot because he has a chance,” he said of Pandur’s big moment in breaking into the squad for the first time. “He’s in the top five goalkeepers in Croatia now. He got the invitation because (Dominik) Kotarski was injured.
“They’re following you, they’re watching the games. I have a very good relationship with the staff, because my ex-coach was Zlatko Dalić (current Croatia boss). It’s perfect, and we have a good connection. Everything is about Ivor, of course. If he plays good, which I don’t have any doubts about, this league is very, very difficult – I explained to the Croatia staff that they know – he has a chance, so we will see.”
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