OLIVER WANTS SO MUCH MORE
Burke hopes to see a Scots spin-off as he knuckles down to life in Germany
DAY by day, hour by hour, Oliver Burke is investing his time in making a success of life in Germany. Whether learning the language with a tutor or expanding his tactical knowledge on the training ground, the 19-year-old is determined to do all he can to thrive in the environment that has been his home for the past five months.
Burke’s Scottish record £15million move from Nottingham Forest to RB Leipzig catapulted him into a world of different experiences.
The expectation, the scrutiny and the surroundings have all changed.
Inevitably, the process of adaptation takes time. So far, substitute appearances have been the norm as the Red Bull-backed club finished the first chunk of an extraordinary debut Bundesliga campaign sitting in second place.
Burke, though, feels ready to push on. A fine goal when handed a start against Rangers in Sunday’s 4-0 win further whetted his appetite for the resumption of the season against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
The winger also hopes becoming more established in Germany could have a positive spin-off for a country even closer to his heart.
Hailed by some as potentially Scotland’s answer to Gareth Bale, Burke admits being dropped by Gordon Strachan for the two most recent World Cup qualifiers was ‘disappointing’.
But it’s not something to dwell upon. He remains hopeful of playing an active part in salvaging a badly ailing bid to reach Russia 2018.
Burke started the opening two qualifiers against Malta and Lithuania, but was not even on the bench when Scotland subsequently lost 3-0 in Slovenia.
When Strachan then made eight changes for November’s game with England at Wembley — lost by the same scoreline — Burke was an unused substitute.
‘It’s not nice when you get missed out of the squad but that’s football,’ he said. ‘That’s the manager’s decision. I can only stick by that. Being part of the team is still a good feeling.
‘I’m just happy to be there. I’m still young and to be with the first-team international squad is a great feeling and a great achievement for me.
‘I’ll keep showing what I’m capable of and when I get the call — if I get the call — we’ll see what happens and I’ll do my very best for the team.’
Slovenia are next up at Hampden in March. Then comes a visit from England in June, when Burke could make up for missing out at Wembley.
‘Of course,’ he added. ‘Maybe I can be in with a shout to actually play.’
Getting more regular action in Leipzig over the intervening months would surely make him impossible to ignore.
Burke hopes his showing against Rangers can provide a platform to persuade club coach Ralph Hassenhuttl he is worth more minutes on the field.
At the same time, the teenager is open about how much he still has to learn as part of a squad lying just three points adrift of mighty Bayern Munich.
‘I’m learning every day on the training pitch,’ he said. ‘We have video analysis and I’m watching that most days. Even on my phone, I’m constantly looking to see where I can improve.
‘I feel that I’m getting better and, if I continue to work hard, listen to my coaches, listen to my team-mates and take all the advice on board, for sure it’s only going to get better and I’ll learn the style of football we play at this club.
‘An area of my game that I need to improve on is the defensive side and being in the right position at the right time, making sure I’m pressing a man. And winning the ball, not just pressing.
‘There is all sorts. I could be here all day. And I’m pretty sure there is much more they need to tell me, as well. I just want to take each day as it comes and keep improving.
‘The coach chooses the team. That’s where I want to be. I want to be playing, I want to be involved and help the team as much as possible. We’ll see what happens.
‘As soon as I stepped through the door, I knew this was the club for me. The facilities, the staff… they all had a goal for me.
‘They know what I’m capable of. I feel that on the training ground I’m getting better and better. Now, it’s just about going out there and showing it.’
Both on and off the field, becoming more fluent in German is a medium-term goal that would carry obvious benefits.
‘I’m still trying to learn,’ said Burke. ‘It’s mainly football words I know. As I gradually keep going through the years and keep learning and having lessons, hopefully my German gets better.
‘It’s not so good. I’m taking it all on board but sometimes when you are training as well as learning another language, it can be quite difficult. Trying to learn tactics and take German lessons all in one go is quite difficult. But I’m trying.
‘Normally after training sessions I go and see a lady called Racquel. She looks after the international boys and does the language stuff. She really looks after us well.
‘I normally go up for half an hour or try and fit it in whenever I can at least three times a week. It’s going to take a bit of time, but I’ll keep trying.
‘Is it harder because of the language thing? No, it has been perfect. Everybody, including the coaches, speak English so they can get their words across to me. Everybody is trying 100 per cent.
‘Anything can happen, of course, but it has been going really well. I get on with everybody.’
Burke was born in Kirkcaldy but grew up in Leicestershire before entering Nottingham Forest’s youth system.
Asked what he had missed most after decamping to central Europe, he smiled: ‘Probably my mum’s cooking. I miss that. ‘I’m not such a good chef. ‘We’ve got a good chef at the club, but mum’s Sunday dinners ain’t too bad. ‘Maybe I miss a bit of the banter with my team-mates. We have banter here now, but at first it was like: “I don’t know what to say, will they get it or not?” ‘They’re not laughing but I am. The banter’s different. But no, I’m happy.’ The culinary issue will soon be resolved. Burke’s mother, Sally, stepfather, Fraser, and his younger sister are due to move out to Germany to join him in the coming weeks.
‘It was always the plan,’ he insisted. ‘I feel at my strongest when I have my family with me. I miss them a lot when they’re not there.
‘It’s brilliant that I can manage to get them over and they can live with me.
‘It’s perfect. I’m happy it’s been able to happen.
‘It’s just taken a bit of time finding a place to live, the right home, but they’ve found one and it’s perfect. I’m moving soon, so I’m happy.
‘I’ve signed here for five years. I’m getting better and better and that’s the main thing really when you sign for another club.
‘Being young as well, you want to be learning and taking everything on board to keep improving. Then it will all come.’
If I get the call I will do my very best for the team