Eight goals in nine – is McBurnie worth Scotland recall?

Tell a room of Tartan Army members that there is a forgotten Scotland striker with eight goals in his past nine English Championship games and you will get attention.

Then mention the name Oli McBurnie and watch noses turn up at the thought of the Hull City forward ever returning to Steve Clarke’s squad.

The former Sheffield United man, who has failed to score in 17 caps, endured a challenging relationship with the fanbase while representing Scotland between 2018 and 2021.

He has not kicked a ball for the national team in almost five years, but it is becoming difficult to ignore the form of the 29-year-old, who scored his 10th goal in all competitions for promotion-chasing Hull on Saturday.

«I have said many times before that to play for your country is the pinnacle of football for me,» McBurnie said after scoring the winner in the weekend victory over West Brom.

«The only way I can get back into that squad is to keep performing for Hull City and keep scoring as many goals as I can to make that decision for the manager as difficult as possible.

«But that is my ultimate goal, to get back into the Scotland squad.»

McBurnie’s fractured Tartan Army relationship

Having failed to score in 17 appearances, it is fair to say it is yet to click between McBurnie and Scotland.

Just seven of those caps were starts, though, four of which came during former head coach Alex McLeish’s troubled second tenure.

People find it easier to remember that McBurnie was in the XI for Scotland’s infamous 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan, as opposed to him starting in the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final win over Israel.

He also scored a penalty in the iconic shootout win against Serbia in the play-off final. That should be remembered fondly.

But sections of the Tartan Army had been questioning the Leeds-born striker’s commitment at least a year prior to that memorable night in Belgrade.

Unfortunate footage on Sheffield United’s TV channel led to claims that McBurnie was not keen to join up with the national team.

He was defended by then Scotland assistant coach Steven Reid. Twelve months later, Clarke said the forward did not deserve the «bad press» he was receiving.

That backing from the head coach came around the time McBurnie withdrew from his squad but played for his club two days later.

He has featured for the current Scotland boss eight times since then, but March 2021 was the last time he was called up.

What numbers say about McBurnie’s season

Despite missing two months of action through injury, only four players have scored more Championship goals than McBurnie (nine) this term.

Factor in his three assists and only three players have bettered his combined goals contribution tally of 12.

But what do the striker’s underlying numbers tell us about his season so far?

Eight of McBurnie’s strikes have been non-penalty goals, while his goals-per-90 ratio of 0.87 is the third-best in the division.

He is overperforming his expected goals rating by four, so perhaps some will question whether his current level of output is sustainable, but he still ranks just outside the league’s top 10 for shots on target per 90.

Where McBurnie also shines as a forward in England’s second tier is his playmaking ability, with just four other strikers creating more big chances.

Off the ball, he ranks within the Championship’s top 20 strikers for blocks, clearances, tackles and possession won in the final third on a per-90 basis.

Saturday’s winner against West Brom was an eighth goal in nine games and takes his all-time Championship tally to 53 in 138 matches across spells with Barnsley, Swansea, Sheffield United and Hull.

A season-long spell in La Liga with relegated Las Palmas last term, where he scored five goals and set up six, will have also improved him as a player.

How does McBurnie compare with Clarke’s options?

Oli McBurnie v Scotland strikers graphic — [Getty Images]

Providing everyone stays fit, Clarke will only call in players he feels will improve his current group for next summer’s World Cup.

McBurnie falls into that, while talk rumbles on about Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes potentially being brought in.

With there being suggestions World Cup squad sizes could be between 26 and 30, there are places to fill – so should McBurnie have a spot?

Included in a 25-man squad for last month’s double-header with Greece and Denmark, Scotland’s striking options were Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes, Lawrence Shankland and George Hirst.

At club level, only Hearts captain Shankland, who has played 845 minutes more than McBurnie, has outscored the Hull man, who has a far better minutes-per-goal average than each of the four forwards.

Of course, the level of the league each of those players are playing in also has to come into any debate, but Ipswich’s Hirst and Dykes of Birmingham are also currently playing in England’s second tier.

If McBurnie is to achieve his «ultimate goal» by forcing his way back into Clarke’s squad, it is clear he would have an uphill battle in getting the majority of the Tartan Army back onside.

But, nearly five years on from his last cap, what is also evident is he has the tools to make himself an unlikely hero.