A fresh start or old grudges? McBurnie's Scotland chance under review

By CALUM CROWE, SCOTTISH DEPUTY CHIEF SPORTS WRITER, on 25 August 2026, there was never any realistic prospect of Oli McBurnie going to the World Cup with Scotland earlier this summer, yet the striker’s recent form fuels a call for a second chance.

Past exclusion under Clarke

Steve Clarke always gave the impression that he never really rated him. Bridges had been burned when McBurnie was caught on camera apparently moaning about Scotland duty while playing for Sheffield United seven years ago. McBurnie has been in exile for over five years, his last Scotland appearance coming in March 2021. The combination of Clarke’s low regard and the earlier incident left little chance of a World Cup call.

New manager offers a clean slate

All the noises from the Scotland camp in the past week have centered on the appointment of Sebastien Pocognoli as a fresh start. The hiring of a bold and ambitious young manager is described as admirable. Pocognoli is expected to give players a clean slate, and McBurnie should be one of those afforded a fresh start.

Oli McBurnie impressed for Hull City in their Premier League 2-0 win over Manchester United last weekend. He is a striker playing at the top level in the English Premier League. He scored 17 goals in the Championship last season, including one in Hull’s play‑off final win over Middlesbrough. Now 30 years of age, he is in the prime of his career.

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Scotland is hardly blessed with options at the top end of the pitch. Ignoring a striker playing at the highest level would feel a bit silly. It would be stubborn and self‑defeating if his Scotland exile continued.

Everyone deserves a second chance, and casting McBurnie to a life of eternal damnation for a seven‑year‑old incident would be unreasonable. Nor should he remain an outcast simply because the previous manager didn’t fancy him.

If McBurnie adds value, he could strengthen the Scotland squad; if he fails, the outcome will speak for itself. The decision now sits at the crossroads of past exclusion and a potential fresh start under Pocognoli.