Scotland: Can Pocognoli afford to continue McBurnie’s exile?

Pocognoli is a coach who wants his teams playing intense football on and off the ball, so McBurnie’s defensive numbers will offer him as much encouragement as last season’s goals tally will.

That said, just mention the Hull striker’s name in a room of Tartan Army members and watch noses turn up at the thought of him ever returning to a squad.

Having failed to score in 17 caps, it is fair to say it is yet to click between McBurnie and Scotland. He has not been called up since March 2021.

Just seven of his appearances have been starts, four of which came during former head coach Alex McLeish’s troubled second tenure.

People find it easier to remember that McBurnie was in the XI for Scotland’s infamous 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan, as opposed to him starting in the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final win over Israel.

He also scored a penalty in the iconic shootout win against Serbia in the play-off final. That should be remembered fondly.

But sections of the Tartan Army had been questioning the Leeds-born striker’s commitment at least a year prior to that memorable night in Belgrade.

Unfortunate footage on Sheffield United’s TV channel led to claims that McBurnie was not keen to join up with the national team.

He was defended by then Scotland assistant coach Steven Reid. Twelve months later, Clarke said the forward did not deserve the “bad press” he was receiving.

That backing from the head coach came around the time McBurnie withdrew from his squad but played for his club two days later.

Amid an impressive scoring run in December last year, he said that returning to the Scotland set-up was his “ultimate goal”.

Achieving that would present him the chance to prove he can be an international striker – and repair a fractured relationship.