Exclusive:'Might open the door' - Mark Hateley dangles World Cup carrot for Hull City's Scotland-capped star Oli McBurnie
Mark Hateley dangles World Cup carrot for Hull City’s Scotland-capped star Oli McBurnie
Former Hull City manager and forward Mark Hateley believes the Scotland door could still open for Oli McBurnie ahead of the World Cup.
The 29-year-old has scored 18 goals in all competitions for Hull this season, firing the Tigers into the Championship play-offs.
His scintillating form has led to calls for a Scotland recall five years on from his last outing at international level.
A call-up for the World Cup does not appear particularly likely but McBurnie has been reminded injuries could prompt a shuffling of Steve Clarke’s pack.
World Cup carrot dangled
Hateley told The Yorkshire Post via NetBet sports betting: “I was with Steve at the PFA last Sunday and he said he's more or less got his numbers.
“At this stage of the season now, there could be a couple of injuries that might open the door for Oli. That's the big incentive for him, as well as a Premier League recall. It's all there for him.
“It's always difficult, the play-offs. You can have a footballing team that can play you off the park and then boom, that sneaky little side that's not been playing well just pips you and is into the next stage. It's all about taking chances and Oli is that man in form, taking chances.
“Oli’s a big boy, he can look after himself, gets the goals. If he gets the service, he gets the goals. If he gets chances created, he gets the goals. That in itself is a big plus - a big, big plus.”
McBurnie has made no secret of his desire to force his way back into the Scotland fold but Clarke recently conceded it will be tough for those on the fringes to stake a claim.
He told Sky Sports: “It's going to be difficult now [for new names to break into the squad] with only two or three weeks of the season to go. I'm more or less set in my mind. If I'm being honest, I've probably still got two positions where I haven't quite decided what to do or who to pick.
"There's also the thought of how many defenders do I take? How many midfielders? How many forwards? Just to try and get that balance right, so that when we get there the squad is capable of playing the way I want them to play in certain matches, and making sure we are in the best possible shape."
Sheffield United’s ‘mistake’
McBurnie was linked with a move back to Sheffield United last summer following the expiry of his contract at Las Palmas.
The Blades did not re-sign their former frontman, something Hateley believes was an error. When asked if Sheffield United made a mistake by failing to get McBurnie back on board, he said: “Yeah, absolutely. I can’t believe he got away from Sheffield United.”