The 29-year-old has returned from a calf injury in style with two goals in the past week for Hull City
Former Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo believes it will be hard for Steve Clarke to leave Oli McBurnie out of the Tartan Army’s World Cup squad if he continues his fine form for Hull City.
McBurnie returned from a nine-game injury lay-off to score twice off the bench in the past week for City, notching goals against Wrexham and Millwall, picking up from where he left off before suffering a calf problem.
That’s taken his tally for the season to nine in just 13 league and cup games, while he’s also registered an impressive four assists for the Tigers, who sit sixth in the Championship after 21 outings.
No Scottish striker has more goals to his name than McBurnie so far this season, with Lawrence Shankland sitting on eight from 16 appearances with Hearts. George Hirst has six for Ipswich Town, while Che Adams has three in 14 for Torino, and Lyndon Dykes has managed just two in 18 for Birmingham City.
City boss Sergej Jakirovic feels McBurnie should be on the plane to the World Cup, and McBurnie himself has spoken openly about his desire to get back into the fold.
Despite his early-season form, which saw him named Championship Player of the Month for September, McBurnie has not yet been called up by Clarke, though he had found himself on the reserve list. His last Tartan Army appearance came four years ago, when he won his 17th cap in March 2021.
“Well, I think Steve Clarke won’t ignore if he carries on this form. I think he had a very difficult time when he was in (the) Scotland (squad),” Iwelumo said in conversation with Hull Live on talkSPORT. “He’s still not opened his account, and he got a lot of stick. And to be fair, managers stuck by him, got the opportunity, but he’s come back a completely different player and it’s confidence.
“If he’s scoring goals, being a real threat and consistently getting to those levels, I don’t think Steve Clarke can shy away from it. You’ve got to take every single player that’s going to be on form, albeit I know the loyalties lie within that Scotland squad.
“I think he’s (Clarke) kind of created a club-like environment there. You’re looking at big Lyndon Dykes. He’s in and out, off the bench. He’s still a major part for Steve Clarke, because for Scotland, he can trust that player. “And that’s probably the thing that might go against Oli McBurnie. Very, very similar attributes, both of them. But again, if he sits and knocks 20-plus goals this season, how can you ignore it?”
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