SM
Chelsea vs. Spurs: 14 hrs 39 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Oliver Burke ready to kick on for Scotland after impressing at Celtic

:Headline: Oliver Burke ready to kick on for Scotland after impressing at Celtic: ID:353274: from db_amp
The 21-year-old has won five senior caps for his country.

Oliver Burke says Celtic have helped him kick-start his career and now he wants to step up a gear and re-establish himself with Scotland.

It is two years since the on-loan West Brom forward won the last of his five senior caps.

But he is back in the national team set-up after being named in Alex McLeish's squad for this month's clashes with Kazakhstan and San Marino.

The 21-year-old found himself out of favour at the Hawthorns but has now earned his recall after returning to action with the Hoops following his January loan switch.

And now that he is back up and running with the Parkhead side, Burke hopes to make up for lost time by motoring straight into McLeish's line-up for the Scots' opening Euro 2020 qualifiers at the Astana Arena a week on Thursday.

"It's an amazing feeling," he said. "I was delighted to get the call-up and I'm really looking forward to it. It's been a long time coming.

"I'm really happy with the way things have gone here at Celtic. It's put me in a great position and that's got me the call-up.

"This move is something I really needed to kick-start my career. I'd been starved of football but I'm so happy to be back playing now.

"Now I have to make the most of the opportunity with Scotland and I'll do my very best."

Burke was handed his first Scotland cap by Gordon Strachan in a friendly with Denmark in 2016 after bursting onto the scene as a winger at Nottingham Forest.

His explosive pace and powerful physique drew comparisons with Real Madrid star Gareth Bale.

However, he struggled to live up to that billing as moves to Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig and West Brom proved frustrating.

“I was delighted to get the call up and I'm really looking forward to it. It's been a long time coming”
- Oliver Burke

Burke is back in his groove at Parkhead having found a better fit as a central striker – although he has not ruled out a move back to the flanks if that is in McLeish's thinking.

"It's good to have that flexibility in positions, especially if something happens in a game and you are able to swap about," he said.

"But I've been really enjoying my role here as a striker and it's really worked out. I'm enjoying myself."

Burke has had to cope with the added strain of having transfer fees totalling £28million attached to his name.

Burke (right) earned a £13million move to RB Leipzig on the back of his displays with Nottingham Forest (Jon Buckle/PA)

It is hard to say West Brom have had value for the £15million they spent on making him Scotland's most expensive player given he has contributed just one goal in 21 appearances.

And Burke admits he is not sure what the Baggies' plans will be for him now that they have sacked boss Darren Moore.

"It's not something I know too much about," he confessed as he spoke ahead of Sunday's trip to Dundee. "I'm a West Brom player but I'm here at Celtic and that's my focus right now.

"To be honest, it's all a bit out of my hands. We'll just have to see.

"This is football and I've been through it enough times now to understand what's going on and hopefully my next step is the right step. But I'm here at Celtic and enjoying myself.

"A lot goes through your head when you go for a big fee as there are a lot of expectations.

"It was a little bit disappointing as all I wanted to do was play football. That's what I've loved since I was a young boy.

"There is a little bit of weight on your shoulders (when you move for big money). People expect you to be the complete player. But that's just how it goes and you have to deal with it.

"To be honest I never really thought about the price tags too much. I just focused on what I had to do to become a better player."

amp_article__353274 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-03-13 15:33:35:
html db last update - 2021-03-01 08:29:30 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Oliver Burke

Click here for more stories about Celtic

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic110082275581
2RangersRangers110074245078
3Hearts101046341263
4Kilmarnock10104334952
5St Mirren10013945-643
6Dundee10014556-1141
Relegation Group
1Hibernian11004752-542
2Aberdeen11003649-1338
3Motherwell10014652-637
4St Johnstone10012549-2431
5Ross County10013258-2630
6Livingston11002459-3521
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .