Exiled from the Scotland squad, a player reaches out to Steve Clarke to find out why he was snubbed, and gets a brutally truthful answer.

A Scotland international who has found himself out of favour has revealed he took matters into his own hands by calling manager Steve Clarke to ask directly why he continues to be overlooked for selection—and received a blunt, honest response in return.

The striker, Oli McBurnie, opened up about the conversation during a recent interview, admitting that his exclusion from recent squads has been difficult to accept, particularly with a major tournament looming on the horizon. With the World Cup now less than two months away, the 29-year-old says he remains eager to force his way back into the national setup.

Despite his desire to return, McBurnie has once again been left out of Clarke’s latest squad, which suffered back-to-back defeats in international friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast. Those omissions have only increased doubts about whether he will be involved in Scotland’s upcoming World Cup plans.

Determined to get clarity, McBurnie explained that he personally reached out to Clarke around the time the most recent squad was being finalised. Rather than speculate about his absence, he wanted to hear directly from the manager about where he stood in the pecking order.

According to McBurnie, Clarke did not shy away from giving a straightforward explanation. The Scotland boss told him that his squad selections are largely based on loyalty and consistency, particularly when it comes to players who have delivered strong performances over time. In that context, Clarke made it clear that both Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes are currently ahead of him in the striker hierarchy.

Oli McBurnie of Hull City (Image: Getty Images)

McBurnie revealed that Clarke views Adams and Dykes as his preferred options, and does not consider him as a backup choice behind them. Instead of competing for a third or fourth striker role, he is being directly compared to those two established forwards—and, at present, the manager believes they offer more to the team.

While the response may have been difficult to hear, McBurnie accepted the honesty and acknowledged the challenge it presents. He reiterated his commitment to doing everything possible to earn another opportunity, insisting that his current form at club level gives him confidence.

The Hull City forward believes he is performing as well as he has in a long time and feels he has made a strong case for inclusion through his displays. However, he also recognises that the only way to change Clarke’s mind is to continue producing consistent performances and hope that an opportunity eventually arises.

McBurnie stressed that representing Scotland remains a major ambition for him, and he is determined not to give up on that goal despite the current setbacks. With limited time before the World Cup, however, he faces an uphill battle to break back into the squad.

His situation has also drawn attention at club level, where Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic has publicly expressed his surprise at the striker’s continued omission from international duty. Speaking last month, Jakirovic admitted he struggles to understand why McBurnie has not been selected, particularly given his goal-scoring record.

The Hull boss pointed out that McBurnie has been outperforming several other forwards in the same division, including players who have received international recognition. From his perspective, the statistics clearly support the striker’s case for inclusion.

However, Jakirovic was also quick to acknowledge that national team selection involves more than just numbers. While he can assess performances and goal tallies, he admitted he is not privy to the manager’s broader tactical considerations or long-term planning.

Even so, he maintained that McBurnie has demonstrated his quality on the pitch and believes the striker has done everything within his control to merit a call-up. Jakirovic added that injuries may have hindered his player’s momentum earlier in the season, suggesting that a fully fit campaign could have strengthened his case even further.

For now, McBurnie remains on the fringes of the Scotland squad, reportedly included on a reserve list but not among the primary selections. While that offers a small glimmer of hope, it also underlines how far he currently is from Clarke’s preferred options.

As the countdown to the World Cup continues, the striker’s focus will remain on maintaining his form and proving his worth at club level. Whether that will be enough to change Clarke’s stance remains uncertain, but McBurnie has made it clear he is willing to fight for another chance to represent his country.