McBurnie’s magic thanks to boss chat

OLI McBURNIE is ready to carry Swansea’s promotion hopes on his slim shoulders after finding strength from a heart-to-heart with his boss.

Graham Potter (right) sat McBurnie down for an hour’s chinwag during training in a bid to lift his sagging spirits.

The result was two goals to end the Scotland striker’s barren run and a fresh mindset that could yet propel the Swans back into the Premier League.

“The gaffer was meant to be out training and I was meant to be out training, but we were still stuck in his office, speaking to each other,” said McBurnie, who had gone eight games without a goal.

“But it was easy to do that because he’s a very intelligent person. Not only does he understand football, but he understands people.

“That’s massive. I’ve never had a manager care so much about me individually, in terms of everything – not just about how things are going on the pitch and whether or not I’m scoring, but every single thing in my life.

“He puts a lot of emphasis on improving as a person as well as a player. That’s what I needed and I’ll always be grateful.”

McBurnie’s low mood kicked in after he was given stick by snarling Scotland fans and then deepened through fatigue.

But his penalty (below) and then late clincher set up by the rapid Daniel James meant it was Reading boss Paul Clement who was left with the blues from an unhappy return to the club that sacked him 10 months ago.

“There aren’t a lot of times that you get a 22-year-old being the regular No.9 at a club and that’s the position I find myself in,” added McBurnie (above, celebrating). “I’m trying to repay the sometimes it’s tough.

“I had the two Scotland games and then it was straight back into Swansea games which was tough on my body.” Clement has swapped a Premier League relegation battle for successive ones in the Championship instead. But he vowed that Reading will have to do what Swansea did if they want to take him away from the trenches.

“As long as I see the players are still fighting, I’m going to keep fighting as well,” said Clement.

SWANSEA: READING: gaffer, but