FIT FOR CLUB.. NOT COUNTRY
McBurnie plays in Sheffield Utd friendly despite being ruled out of Scotland tie
STEVE CLARKE last night insisted Oli McBurnie’s Scotland career is not on the line – despite the £20million striker appearing to pick his club over country for the second time in 12 months.
McBurnie came off the bench for Sheffield United in a pre-season win over Derby yesterday just days after he was ruled out of Clarke’s squad to face Israel at Hampden on Friday and Monday’s showdown in the Czech Republic.
Hampden top brass were stunned by
McBurnie’s quick recovery after being informed the frontman had no chance of being fit for action because of a gashed foot that had become infected.
McBurnie – who had to grovel for forgiveness from the Tartan Army a year ago after being caught on camera describing the Scotland set-up as “s***” – looked to be showing no ill effects at Pride Park as Chris Wilder’s side went about their Premier League preparations.
He had been tipped to lead the attack against the Israelis given the absence of Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths, Hearts veteran Steven Naismith and Dundee United poacher Lawrence Shankland.
But his place had been threatened by the defection of Aussie hitman Lyndon Dykes who now looks certain to be fast-tracked straight into Clarke’s plans, with a crucial Euro 2020 play-off against Israel now just one month away.
But Clarke is adamant McBurnie has not let the side down. He said: “I spoke to Chris at the end of last week and he told me Oli hadn’t been training because he’d a laceration in his foot that had become infected and wouldn’t be fit enough to play at international level.
“Chris is one of the most honest men in football and we had a good discussion about where Oli was at.
“There’s a world of difference between some minutes in a pre-season friendly and preparing for an international double-header.
“After discussions with the medical team and sports science team it made sense for everyone for Oli to stay at Sheffield and work on his fitness.”
However, sources close to the Scotland manager were believed to be blind-sided by the player’s appearance in yesterday’s bounce game – especially as McBurnie’s Bramall Lane team-mate John Fleck is at Scotland’s base in Edinburgh along with Derby keeper David Marshall.
An SFA spokesman said only: “Oli had a lacerated foot last week that became infected. Steve spoke to his club manager Chris Wilder and – given that he hadn’t trained – agreed it was best to let him return to his club.”
Following McBurnie’s withdrawal on Sunday Clarke gave an emergency call-up to Cardiff utility man Callum Paterson as cover for a increasingly threadbare attack.
Wilder also insisted Clarke was aware of his i n tention to field McBurnie. He threw the 24-year-old on from the bench but insisted the player is not ready for international action, along with Republic of Ireland ace David McGoldrick who has been ruled out Stpehen Kenny’s squad for games against Bulgaria and Finland.
The Blades boss said: “I spoke to Steve beforehand and he agreed with us that, given where Oli is at, he was better off being with us and doing this. We’re in constant dialogue with Steve and Stephen and everybody agreed.”