Steve Clarke’s choice to leave Oli McBurnie out of Scotland’s World Cup roster has already faced criticism.
Following Saturday’s events at Wembley, that criticism may intensify.
McBurnie emerged as Hull City’s hero, leading them to victory and promotion in a less dramatic yet arguably more impactful manner—their own version of Dean Windass.
In the fifth minute of added time, the 29-year-old Scotsman capitalized on a mistake from Middlesbrough goalkeeper Sol Brynn to net the only goal of the Championship play-off final.
This goal secured Hull’s return to the Premier League after a decade away.
Remarkably, this winning moment came just four days after the 19-goal striker found himself excluded from Clarke’s squad for the summer’s World Cup in the USA, which features teams like Canada and Mexico.
While he won’t represent Scotland at the World Cup, McBurnie is headed to the Premier League with Hull.
“I’m glad he isn’t going to the World Cup; it gives him a chance to rest,” Tigers manager Sergej Jakirovic shared with BBC Sport.
He noted that McBurnie had discussions with Clarke, who clarified his reasoning for the selection.
“He scores goals, but ultimately, squad selection is up to the international coach, and I respect that decision,” Jakirovic added.
Clarke had hinted that McBurnie’s character may not align with the team’s needs.
“It feels like McBurnie could have scored a hat-trick in every match in the last two months, and Clarke would remain unmoved,” noted BBC chief sports reporter Tom English.
“Maybe he’s simply not a fan of him as a player or as a person. Who knows?”
Jakirovic, however, sees McBurnie as a crucial presence in the Hull locker room.
“He is a leader with vast Championship experience who instills fear in opponents,” the Croatian manager said of his former Swansea and Sheffield United player.
McBurnie’s decisive goal against Middlesbrough marked his 19th of the season [Getty Images]
McBurnie joined Hull City in August, having spent the previous year with Las Palmas, where his stint ended with relegation from La Liga.
At that time, he expressed excitement about returning to England to be part of something special, and he has certainly justified the trust placed in him by Jakirovic.
“There’s something special about joining a team and a manager who truly values you,” McBurnie said upon signing.
“When I spoke to the manager, his first question was, ‘Can you score 15 goals for me?'”
After starting his career at Bradford City, McBurnie gained prominence at Swansea, where he netted 22 goals in 58 league appearances before making a £20m transfer to Sheffield United in 2019.
Playing under Chris Wilder at Bramall Lane for five years, Jakirovic remarked that had circumstances played out differently in August, McBurnie would likely still be with Sheffield United celebrating his current achievements.
“Had Chris Wilder managed Sheffield United this season, McBurnie would absolutely be playing for them,” Jakirovic reflected.
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Scotland’s World Cup selections include Che Adams (Torino), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), and Ross Stewart (Southampton), leaving Hull’s standout performer rested for a summer of recovery before another Premier League campaign.
“Football is subjective, and I’ve done my part to make the case for selection. Ultimately it’s up to the manager and I respect that,” McBurnie stated to Sky Sports soon after his victory at Wembley.
“Some of those guys are my close friends, so I’ll cheer them on from a sunny spot with a beer in hand.”
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That beer will surely taste sweeter with a play-off trophy to show for it.
‘The difference maker’ and ‘pressure handler’
Jakirovic becomes the third coach to guide the Tigers into the Premier League, following in the footsteps of Phil Brown and Steve Bruce.
Brown, now an analyst at the final for BBC Radio 5 Live, praised McBurnie’s intelligence as a striker, suggesting he often goes unrecognized for his talents.
“He’s not what you’d typically call a standout footballer, but he’s a prolific scorer,” Brown noted.
“If he’s in the right place at the right time, he’ll find the back of the net for his team.”
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Scoring the winner, McBurnie also came close to securing an earlier goal with a header that struck the crossbar.
Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff labeled him “the difference maker,” emphasizing that although he had limited opportunities during the match, he capitalized when it mattered most, sending Hull to the Premier League.
Yet, it’s Jakirovic who best encapsulated McBurnie’s significance at the club.
“He really thrives under pressure—I knew he was ready for games like these,” Jakirovic pointed out.
“He scored when we needed it against Norwich on the season’s final day, which was essentially a play-off match for us.”