Clarke hopes drifter Burke can finally put down roots

Up to now he has been the lost boy of Scotland’s national team.

Oliver Burke has racked up transfer fees of £28million and played in the top f lights of England, Germany and Spain.

Former Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers also gave him a platform in the Scottish Premiership last year by taking him on loan at the Hoops.

But, as yet, the 23-year- old hasn’t been a mainstay anywhere.

And for those who saw him as a raw teenager at Nottingham Forest – where he earned a £ 13m move to RB Leipzig – he has yet to truly fulfil his potential.

Burke was sent out to Spanish side Alaves last season and in one game, tormented Real Madrid’s superstar defenders.

He’s now returned to parent club West Brom and there’s concrete interest in him from Premier League rivals Sheffield United.

Blades boss Chris Wilder might just be the type to get the best out of Burke.

Scotland gaf fer Steve Clarke certainly hopes so. He knows there’s a top- class player in there who just hasn’t produced consistently enough in his career.

C la rke had no hesitation in naming Burke in his squad for the upcoming Nations League ties against Israel and Czech Republic.

After all, he got h is manager’s reign off to a flying start last June with a late winner against Cyprus at Hampden.

Clarke believes Burke needs to find a permanent home at club level and a boss who believes in him.

If that happens, he’s convinced the wideman can make a huge impact for Scotland this season.

He said: “Oli has been good for me. He always comes to the squad with a good attitude and work ethic.

“He scored the winner against Cyprus in my f i rst game so I ’ l l always be grateful to him for that.

“He had a good spell in Spain last season. He didn’t play all of the games but played a lot and picked up more experience. He is getting older and hopefully wiser. What

Oli needs is to find a home. He has been drifting around from club to club, going here and there.

“But he needs a manager who loves him and a club he can call home. When he gets all that, he will improve and get better. He’s still a young man and hasn’t many international caps.

“Sometimes the pressure is to push these players but it takes time to step up, get used to the international environment and find confidence at that level.

“I think confidence is a big factor with Oli. He’s a confidence player. “He’s got loads of money, he’s made the big moves and has that in the bank now. When you get to that level, if you want to be a top player, you stop thinking about money and start thinking about performances.

“I wouldn’t say I have sympathy with him over how his career has gone. I just think he’s been a little bit unfortunate with a few of his moves. “They haven’t quite allowed him to continue his development. He needs to f ind a home now. “Somewhere he can go and play every week. “I’m sure if he gets that, his performance levels will be good.” If Burke is plying his trade in the Premier League next season, either at the Hawthorns or Bramall Lane, he could come up against a Scotland team-mate in Liam Cooper.

The Leeds United skipper was a key player for Marcelo Bielsa in their Cha mpion sh i p - w i n n i n g campaign and Clarke is delighted to see him getting a crack at the big time. With those two, as well as Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, John Fleck, John McGinn, and Stuart A rms t r o n g excelling in the Engish t o p league, the

Scotland boss says it can only benefit the national side.

He said: “Leeds were very strong in the Championship and I’m sure will be strong in the Premier League.

“Liam will relish the chance to play against top strikers down there.

“You want to be challenged and go up against the best at the highest level. Liam will be excited about getting that chance.

“To be captain of Leeds is great experience for him and hopefully he’ll bring that – and some Bielsa magic – into the Scotland camp. He’s a coach who works his own special way and has had great results at Leeds.

“Liam is a good player, I like his demeanour. He’s a leader so that should help our other centre-backs.

“In international football if you give the ball away you can spend a long time trying to get it back and be punished on the counter attack.

“So it’s important to have people who can play from the back, who know when to do it and when not to. Liam has that in his locker.

“It’s great that it’s another player in the Premier League. That’s a very positive sign for Scottish football that our players are starting to show their talent down there.

“We’re quick to knock ourselves but those lads are competing well and that can only be good for the national team.

“Everyone knows it’s a very high standard. Some only have between 10 and 15 caps, which isn’t a lot. So the more experience they get, the more they play in the Premier League, the better they will become.

“Hopefully if we have players at that level, it can help the others around them. They can bring an attitude and quality to training that makes everyone better.

“That’s what we must do to be competitive and qual i f y for major tournaments.

“We have to take a step up.”