Oli McBurnie frustrated by Scotland squad omission

The selection debate

McBurnie’s case appears to rest on timing as much as talent.

• He has enjoyed a productive season for Hull City.
• Reports say he felt he had done all he could to force his way back in.
• His international absence stretches back to 2021, making the door feel half-open rather than shut.

Managers are entitled to make hard calls. International squads are built on balance, roles and trust as much as club form. But when a forward is scoring regularly and playing with confidence, exclusion will always invite scrutiny.

Why the communication matters

The bigger issue may be the process.

• Players can accept disappointment more easily than silence.
• Direct contact from a manager often reduces noise before a squad announcement.
• When that contact does not come, frustration tends to linger.

That does not change Clarke’s right to pick the squad he wants. It does, however, shape the mood around the decision. A player on the outside can live with “not this time”; it is harder to shrug off feeling forgotten.

Hull need his focus now

For Hull City, the challenge is immediate. A play-off final at Wembley leaves little room for emotional drift, and McBurnie’s response now matters more than the snub itself. Big-game forwards are judged on how quickly they reset.

If he channels that disappointment well, Middlesbrough could face a striker with a point to prove. That is the next storyline to watch - not the text message, but the reaction on the pitch.