2 DAYS TO GO
was gutted when Jelavic left for Everton because I used to run around my garden with a ball at my feet shouting his name.
“Of course I’d like to play for Rangers. I grew up supporting them and I’d love to pull on the jersey. We’ll just have to see how my career goes and if I’m lucky enough.”
McBurnie was part of the Leeds academy system since he was five years old with brother Zander, two years his junior, but he was released at 15 because he was too small.
That sparked a bout of serious soul searching and a drop into the Sunday League ranks again before he relaunched his career at Bradford City, where his development was so stunning the Swans swooped after only 18 months as a senior pro.
He said: “It toughened me up. It’s hard at 15 when people tell you you’re not big enough. My brother and I were released on the same day.
“It was a big adjustment. We took a year out and played Sunday League football just to get the enjoyment back and then I went to Bradford and Zander is still playing in the Swedish second division.
“It crossed me mind a few times to quit. At that age I wasn’t mentally strong at all. I had been at an academy since I was five and was mollycoddled.
“I went to Barnsley on trial. I lasted two training sessions and told my dad, ‘I don’t really want to go anymore, I don’t like it’. I fell out of love with the game.
“I started playing with my mates and enjoyed football again. I went on trial to Bradford and scored a hat-trick in my first game. They signed me after that.”
There has been no looking back for McBurnie and four goals in his first five games for Barnsley saw him named Championship Player of the Month, no mean feat with his side battling relegation.
He said: “My accent might be English but we were brought up Scottish, to celebrate when England were knocked out the World Cup. That was my childhood.
“My grandma Morag is 91 and she lives in Leeds. When I told her about the call-up she said that was enough for her. No matter what else happened I’ve done her proud.
“International football is the pinnacle. It’s the proudest moment of my career.”