The Tigers’ forward has more goal involvements than any other Scotland player this season
Oli McBurnie has bagged 14 goals for City this season (Image: Tony King/Getty Image)
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke says the door remains open for those players not included in his latest squad for two friendlies later this month to stake their claim for a place in the final group for this summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Despite being Scotland’s best-performing striker this season, Hull City star Oli McBurnie has again been overlooked by Clarke as his international exile continues, with Championship rivals Lyndon Dykes, George Hirst and Tommy Conway amongst those selected above him.
McBurnie hasn’t added to his tally of 17 caps since his last appearance almost five years ago, but with 14 goals and seven assists this season in the Championship for City, Clarke has decided to go with players who haven’t reached those tallies.
The Scotland chief, though, says the door remains open for those players who continue to perform for their clubs in the final weeks of the season, and McBurnie will hope he can spearhead City’s promotion charge towards the Premier League.
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“There’s a few players that could have been in the squad are not in the squad, but I know what they can do, and I’ve got other players that are in the squad that I’m maybe not convinced yet about what they can and can’t do,” Clarke said after his squad was announced.
“Let’s have a look and see what happens. There’s always room for someone else. There’s always room for an outsider. There’s, off the top of my head, probably four players that would have been in this squad if they hadn’t been injured, so immediately that’s the squad up to 30 players.
“Of course, the door’s open. You never know what’s going to happen in the next ten or 11 weeks before we actually go to the World Cup. Everyone has to be ready, continue to perform for their club, and, as I’ve always said, make my decision as difficult as possible.”
Clarke also confirmed that he had spoken to some players left out of the squad, but not others, though he wouldn’t reveal which ones had been contacted.
“I spoke to one or two of them, but not everybody, because some of the ones that are not in the squad will realise why they’re not in the squad, and I can’t go around phoning every single player that hasn’t been selected and tell them that they might be in the next squad. That’s just not the way I work.”
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