MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 20:10:33| >> :120:25443:25443:

Oli McBurnie returns to Scotland squad for October fixtures

Oli McBurnie returns to Scotland squad for October fixtures
© Reuters
The 24-year-old withdrew for recent clashes against Israel and Czech Republic, only to feature for his club in a pre-season friendly.

Oli McBurnie will get the chance to re-assert his commitment to Scotland after being named in Steve Clarke's squad for next month's triple-header.

The Sheffield United striker faced criticism from sections of the Tartan Army after withdrawing injured from the group for recent clashes with Israel and the Czech Republic, only to then feature for the Blades in a pre-season friendly.

Clarke and the player himself both insisted that he would have turned out for the Scots had he been fully fit and he will hope to now get his chance having been named in the 26-man selection for the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel and Nations League clashes against Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Ryan Fraser was left out of Clarke's last squad due to the fact he was without a club at the time but now returns having signed for Newcastle, while Hibernian defender Ryan Porteous is also included for the second time in the full group as reward for an impressive start to the season at Easter Road.

Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack was expected to miss next month's internationals with a calf injury sustained against Dundee United a fortnight ago but, with Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard confirming he will return to training this week, he has also been handed a call-up alongside Lawrence Shankland, who withdrew last time because of an ankle injury.

James Forrest misses out with bone bruising sustained during Celtic's Europa League win over Riga in midweek, while Inter Miami's Lewis Morgan and Sporting Kansas City's Johnny Russell are understood to have been stood down because of complications involved in quarantining on their return from the United States.

Speaking in a video on the national team's Twitter account, Clarke said: "The more options you have up front, the better.

"Oli McBurnie got himself fit back, playing again, Lawrence has got two goals in two games since he got back into the Dundee United team.

"Oli Burke has got a good move to Sheffield United and has started the last two games and did well so with Lyndon (Dykes) coming into the squad last month and doing well, it gives us really good options."

ID:416415: cacheID:416415:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4802:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Celtic Park from 2015
Read Next:
Celtic, Aberdeen handed £8,000 fines for breaching coronavirus protocols
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!