The report says McBurnie started Scotland’s goalless draw in Slovenia, his first start for the national team in five years. He had opportunities to score but could not take them, despite believing Scotland created enough chances to win.
“It’s got to me at times,” McBurnie said. “It’s been hard to deal with.”
His reported record of 17 appearances without a goal provides the backdrop to Tuesday’s test. Yet his willingness to discuss the missed chances may also point to a forward ready to confront the problem rather than hide from it.
For a striker, getting into scoring positions is the first requirement. The next step is making one moment count.
Sebastien Pocognoli’s arrival has opened the door for McBurnie after his absence from the national set-up during Steve Clarke’s tenure. He is reportedly being used in a front two, a different role from the one he usually fills for Hull City under Sergej Jakirovic.
That adjustment will require patience. International teams have limited time on the training ground, and a new system cannot be perfected overnight.
“There were times when it looked like I was never going to come back,” McBurnie said. “The older I've got and the more mature I've got, you really appreciate these times a lot more.”
Switzerland are expected to provide a demanding opponent, but they also offer McBurnie another chance to turn encouraging movement into a defining contribution.
A first Scotland goal does not need to be spectacular. A rebound, a close-range finish or a scrappy touch would all serve the same purpose: removing the weight that has followed him.
The next storyline is clear. If McBurnie finds another opening at Hampden, Scotland will discover whether the returning striker can finally make it count.