Hull City v Ipswich Town: Oli McBurnie's season shows why Tigers must not stop believing
This season Oli McBurnie has been feeling things he has not felt for a long time – little wonder he is so desperate to be on the field for Hull City against Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Little wonder also, he believes they can pull off the unexpected.
This campaign has not been one of firsts for the Leeds-born striker, more going back to things he thought he might have lost forever.
It started by playing Premier League football again after a two-season absence, then a recall to international football having been persona non-grata with Scotland for five years. On Saturday came his first top-flight goal for 930 days.
McBurnie was playing with a broken finger, and cracked a rib that had him coughing up blood at half-time. There is no way he will let either stop him facing the Tractor Boys who, like Hull, have 10 points from eight games since coming up from last season's Championship.
"It was a challenge with Aaron Hickey, one of the lads I’ve played for Scotland with, I hope he hasn’t actually meant to do it," says McBurnie.
"But he caught me right in the solar plexus and, having cracked a rib last year in the Championship, I think I’ve just cracked it again.
"I just got on with it. There’s not much you can do with a rib.
"I asked the doc and said ‘I’m coughing up blood,’ but he said, ‘It’s alright,' so I just cracked on.
"I broke a finger a couple of weeks before against Everton – I just snapped it in half in a tackle.
"But I don’t think the gaffer would have been too happy if I said I didn’t want to play with a broken finger!
"All the boys in the dressing room, we’re all kind of cut from the same cloth. Everyone remembers when Tree (Matt Crooks) ripped his pec off in January.
"The surgeon basically told him he needed surgery within the first month and it was only ever going to heal 50 per cent but he would be missing three or four months.
"We managed to convince him – and he convinced himself – not to do it and we got promoted."
After leaving relegated Sheffield United in 2024, McBurnie headed for a year in La Liga at Las Palmas.
"I thought my time in the Premier League was maybe done," he admits. "To make it back is something I’m proud of. I’m a much better player.
"Sometimes you need to take a step back. We’re playing in the best league in the world with a great group of mates and staff."
His return ran in parallel with another redemption story. Steve Clarke did not take to McBurnie and cut his nose off to spite his face, choosing inferior Scotland strikers. Successor Sebastien Pocognoli recalled the 30-year-old at the first opportunity.
"It shows you should never stop believing," says McBurnie.
"There were definitely times when I thought that dream was over – both playing for my country again and getting back to the Premier League.
"There were also times when I thought a recall might come sooner.
”Whatever happens now, I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to represent my country again.
"He (Pocognoli) Facetimed me asking if I was free and I was just sat at home with the missus and kids. He said he’d been watching me and spoke of his plans for me, so it was hard to keep the smile off my face!
"My family were delighted and came to the games at Hampden.
"Everything I do is for my kids. I never thought they’d get to see that."
Never stop believing could be a Hull motto after many in the punditeratti rushed to disrespect them, just as they did to a lesser extent Ipswich.
"Everyone knew the narrative of there’s no point in us even playing, we’re already relegated,’" says McBurnie.
"It was probably the easy thing to say that we were going to be the worst Premier League team ever. Some of it was a bit muggy, but it’s nothing we take personally or that affects us.
"Within our dressing room we’ve always had belief. We worked so hard to get here and, bar the Fulham game, we’ve been pretty good.
"We’re happy with where we’re at and we just need to maintain our momentum because we haven’t achieved anything yet."
They have shown their worth and their centre-forward showed his against Brentford, having started the season with important performances – one minute a targetman, the next a false nine – but no goals until Hull ‘s first penalty this season.
"That feeling never gets old – it’s the best feeling in the world, whether it’s a one-yard tap-in or a 30-yard screamer," says McBurnie.
"I should have had a couple already but it’s the Premier League.
"Now I’ve got one, hopefully I can get more but if we’re scoring goals and getting results then I’m more than happy to do my job for the team."