2 DAYS TO GO
OLI LEAVES US A STRIKER SHORT Fans can’t be Don with top boss Del Billy will soon be a big star for Scots
SCOTLAND have been left with strikers for the just three Euro 2020 double against Russia header and San Marino McBurnie pulled after Oli out through injury. Steve Clarke called replacement up Stuart Armstrong as a but the remaining Johnny Russell, strikeforce of Oliver Burke and Shankland has Lawrence just 18 caps and between them. two goals McBurnie left the team hotel yesterday the SFA have confirmed and he is out of the The £20million squad. man would have to start at least been expected one of the games of options in front given the lack of Clarke. During the last international was caught up break McBurnie in controversy spending time after describing in the camp as learning Sheffield “s***e” after United team-mate Fleck wasn’t going on John international The ex-Swansea duty. striker made against Costa his Scots debut Rica in 2018 but is yet to score. BY STUART HODGE FORMER Pittodrie favourite Kenny McLean can’t believe there are Aberdeen fans who want rid of manager Derek McInnes.
Dissent is growing among a section of supporters with some believing McInnes’ tactics are too negative.
But for McLean, who reached multiple cup finals and finished second in the Premiership during each of the three full seasons he spent with the Dons, it’s hard to get his head around why some fans would want the boss out.
He said: “I think it’s farcical that it’s even mentioned people want Derek McInnes to go.
“What he’s done up there is excellent.
“He won the Cup early on, so many second-placed finishes, taking them to cup finals and then bear in mind they’re struggling with injuries so they’ve not got their full team available right now.
“I have no doubt he will make them better again KENNY McLEAN reckons it won’t be long until Billy Gilmour is in a Scotland squad – as the Chelsea kid is destined for the top.
There was a clamour for the 18-year-old to be included in the party travelling to Russia this week after Gilmour starred in the Blues first team.
But Norwich midfielder McLean reckons Scotland’s recent results may have swayed Steve Clarke’s decision not to select Gilmour, right, this time.
He said: “Maybe the manager thinks it’s just one too early for him.
“I’ve no doubt he’s going to have a massive international career and a massive future in the game but it’s up to the manager.
“He’s still a young boy, you don’t want to put too much pressure on him. We’ve had with what he’s done over the years. If you speak to the people at the club, like the chairman, then they’ll back him all the way.
“If you’re coming up against teams like Celtic I don’t think you can be too expansive and try and chase the game because they’ve got quality players and we did as much as we could and ran them close.
“Celtic can go out and spend money on players but Aberdeen and McInnes need to work with what they’ve got.
“They need to make the best of it and I think he’s done that – he certainly got the best out of me.” BY STUART HODGE a couple of poor results recently and we’ve had a bit of backlash from them which was deserved for the players that were involved. “And he’s a young boy so we don’t want to put too much on him too soon. “But he’s played a couple of games at Chelsea now and that speaks for itself. His potential doesn’t even need spoken about, he’s that good.” McLean reckons Gilmour’s attitude can take him right to the top. He added: “He’s a level-headed boy. He just wants to do better and learn and when you get that in a young player, with any experience he can get it’s only going to get even better.” TLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME