Oli McBurnie admits he should have scored at least one goal on his long-awaited return to international football with Scotland, as attention turns to Tuesday night’s battle with Switzerland.
McBurnie was drafted in from the international wilderness by new head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, who handed him a first start in five years in Slovenia on Saturday, but the Hull City star, along with his teammates, drew a blank in Ljubljana.
The talismanic Tigers star, who bagged the winner at Wembley in May to send City to the Premier League, saw a couple of good chances come his way, operating up front with a strike-partner, rather than on his own as he so often does for Sergej Jakirovic.
“It took us a little bit of getting used to in the first half, the new formation and the way the gaffer wanted to play,” McBurnie told BBC Sport. “I thought once we did we looked really good. We created enough chances to kill the game and we’re really disappointed we didn’t get the three points.
“I think I’ve got to score, and a couple of the other lads as well. So yeah, disappointing, but a good start under the new manager I think.”
“I was asked to play a different position, I quite enjoyed it. I enjoy the manager’s ideas, we’ve had some good chats about it already and I think it suited me in there. But I’m not going to be able to sleep tonight with those chances. It’s a tough one.
“But I’d rather be getting in the positions than not getting the chances. Hopefully I can get another chance in the next game and put it to bed.”
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It was McBurnie’s first appearance for the Tartan Army in five years, having been frozen out by former boss Steve Clarke, but following the end of his tenure following Scotland’s dismal World Cup offering, the City star was immediately called up by new boss Pocognoli.
“There were times when it looked like I was never going to come back. The older I’ve got and the more mature I’ve got, you really appreciate these times a lot more,” he continued.
“When I was last in the squad, I was a kid really. You think it’s just going to always be like this. I probably did take it for granted a little bit.
“I didn’t play well enough when I put on the Scotland shirt. I can hold my hands up and say that. I didn’t give the best representation of me as a player or as a person and that’s something that I’m here to change.
“I’m just so thankful that I’ve been given the opportunity to do that. I’ll be eternally grateful to the manager for giving me the chance. I’m more determined to go out there and prove why I belong here.”
McBurnie will get another chance to find the back of the net for the first time in a Scotland shirt when Scotland host Switzerland in the Nations League on Tuesday night at Hampden Park.
“It’s got to me at times,” he confessed, having gone 17 games for Scotland without finding the back of the net. “It’s been hard to deal with. My job is to score goals, and it didn’t happen so a one-yard tap-in or one that goes in off my backside – anything to get me off the mark with my country would be incredible.”
Elsewhere, Konstantinos Tzolakis starred for Greece in a surprise 1-0 win in Augsburg to spoil Jurgen Klopp’s first game in charge of Germany. Elliot Stroud scored a stunning goal, but saw it disallowed in Sweden’s 2-1 win over Romania, having played at left-back and will likely start on Monday night in Stockholm against Poland.
John Egan was an unused substitute in Ireland’s controversial 3-0 win over Israel in Hungary, while Sorba Thomas played the full game in Copenhagen as Wales were soundly beaten 2-0 by Denmark. Paddy McNair was a late introduction off the bench for Northern Ireland as they secured a 1-0 away win in Georgia thanks to Shea Charles’ 99th minute winner.
After impressing against Brazil on Friday night, Lucas Herrington will likely get another opportunity at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Tuesday. Herrington and his Socceroos were moments away from a historic victory over Brazil in Townsville, only for Rayan to head in an equaliser to make it 1-1 in added time. City’s summer transfer target Nestory Irankunda had given the hosts a stunning lead from a free-kick.
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