Sheffield United forward Oli McBurnie says that it does ‘hurt’ to see people question his commitment to the Scotland cause.
The striker is gearing up for a massive match on the international scene as Scotland face Israel in a Euro 2020 play-off semi-final match at Hampden this evening. Victory in this could take the country one step to its first major tournament since 1998.
McBurnie could lead the line for Steve Clarke but he’ll have a point to prove to some sections of the Tartan Army. There have been instances on a few occasions where the forward has dropped out the squad for deemed-to-be questionable reasons.
More queries over his commitment arose last month as he dropped out the Scotland squad, but played in a friendly for Sheffield United on the same night. McBurnie has hit out at that commitment question
“People are well within their right to question my ability, that’s more than fair enough,” McBurnie said (Scotland Podcast). “If people don’t like me as a footballer, that’s fine.
“But for me the hard one is the commitment because ever since I’ve been a kid I have seen myself as Scottish. That does hurt me. I have told the story many times where England were playing and me and my brother would go to school with Scotland flags painted on our face
“The football one hurts my family more than it hurts me but I am used to that stuff. I am kind of a love-hate person or player, a lot of people like to not like me. My mum and dad like to read that stuff and I keep telling them not to read it, it’s never going to get any better.
“The older I got the more mature I have got and the more I have realised you are never going to please everybody. And especially the way I am as a person and a player, I am definitely never going to please everyone.
“That side of it is fine but all the boys in the squad know me and know how much I want to be here and help the team as much as possible.”