Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
OLI’S WILDER SIDE
Record-signing striker owes Blades gaffer
OLI McBURNIE is desperate to repay the faith shown in him by Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder.
Wilder smashed the Blades’ record transfer fee to bring the talented 23-year-old to Bramall Lane for £20million from Swansea City after having two bids rejected.
And the Scottish international is relishing the challenge of being the club’s marquee summer signing for their Premier League return.
McBurnie, who bagged an impressive 24 goals last season, admitted: “The gaffer and the club have shown a lot of confidence in me. I just want to prove them all right. “They have spent a lot of money easily have gone on to other targets when it got a bit tricky.
“There is probably a bit of pressure. “But how much I have been bought for will not help me out on the pitch.
“I have to go out there and score goals. I ignore the fee and focus on my own game.
“I knew it would take a big fee to get me out of Swansea. So I knew it would be a ridiculous amount of money to get me here and I can embrace that pressure.
“I have always been good with pressure on my shoulders.”
McBurnie is chomping at the bit to make his mark in the Premier League and enhance his international credentials.
The prolific marksman made his Scotland debut in 2018 and now has seven caps under his belt.
He added: “One of my aims was to play in the Premier League and play international football. That is the pinnacle, in my opinion.
“Becoming a mainstay in the national team is definitely one of my goals – and scoring goals in the Premier League can only help that.
“I’ve recently turned 23 and have seven caps, so I want to build on that.”
McBurnie grew up in Leeds and returns to Yorkshire ready to sparkle in England’s top flight.
Yorkshire has been a happy hunting ground for the towering forward, with a successful loan spell at Barnsley two seasons ago, winning the club’s playerof-the-year award after only joining in January.
And he beamed: “It’s good to be back home, it feels great – there are plenty of friendly faces and hearing the Yorkshire accent every day.
“I have about 25 of my pals in the crowd every time I play in Yorkshire, so that brings more expectation.
“Most of my mates are Leeds fans, so not too chuffed about me playing for Sheffield United. No, seriously, they are buzzing for me to be back.
“They used to come down to Swansea. It is a long drive, so they are chuffed I am back up here.
“I just feel at home up here in Yorkshire. I am a Leeds lad and all my family are up here.
“One of the main things the gaffer said to me was that I’d fit in with the boys and the fans would take to me.
“That’s always nice to hear.”