Can Pocognoli afford to continue McBurnie’s Scotland exile?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Oli McBurnie was Hull City’s play-off hero in May’s promotion-clinching final, scoring a 95th-minute winner against MiddlesbroughByNick McPheatBBC Sport ScotlandPublished22 August 2026It was only four days after Oli McBurnie had received confirmation he would not be going to the World Cup with Scotland that he secured Hull City’s Premier League return.With 95 minutes on the clock at Wembley, the 30-year-old striker hooked in a 19th goal of the season in the six-yard box to break Middlesbrough hearts.The pain he was enduring about his Scotland exclusion was nowhere to be seen in a wild celebration, as the former Sheffield United man whipped his top off and wheeled away while bodies flew around the Hull end.Steve Clarke’s side went on to underwhelm at the World Cup, exiting at the group stage after scoring one goal from three matches. The head coach resigned thereafter.Meanwhile, McBurnie prepared for his own return to England’s top tier. The ex-Las Palmas forward, who has not played for the Scots since 2021, looked at home during Hull’s fantastic win over Manchester United on Saturday.
With a fresh face in the Scotland dugout, are reasons running dry to exclude McBurnie from Sebastien Pocognoli’s first squad for next month’s Nations League fixtures?
