‘The manager knows what he is’ – Hull legend Dean Windass pinpoints key reason beloved Tigers will survive relegation

FORGET “false nine s***” – Dean Windass says there is nobody better than throwback striker Oli McBurnie to fire his beloved Hull City to safety. The 6ft 2in Scottish striker, 18 years after hometown hero ‘Deano’s’ own Wembley play-off heroics against Bristol City, repeated the feat with a last-ditch winner to down Middlesbrough last season. Oli McBurnie fired Hull City back to the Premier League with the play-off winner against Boro Credit: Getty Dean Windass fired his beloved Tigers to Wembley glory in 2008 Credit: Getty Rewind to the previous summer, McBurnie was a 31-year-old free agent after being released by Spanish side Las Palmas and searching for the ninth club of his career. Fast-forward nine months and 19 goals later and, like Windass, his chapter in Hull’s history was secure. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Though his Humberside fairytale is far from over. Powerhouse McBurnie is yet to get off the mark in the top-flight. But he has left Manchester United and Coventry’s defences battered and bruised and played every minute of his side’s two victories so far. And Windass, who will be in attendance at the MKM Stadium for Saturday night’s clash with Aston Villa, knows whatever the result, Aston Villa’s defence will endure a nightmare against Sergej Jakirovic’s tireless No9. The former forward, who scored top-flight goals for Bradford and Middlesbrough, told SunSport: “You don’t get the old-fashioned Alan Shearer, Duncan Ferguson, Dean Windass-type forwards anymore. “Now they’re playing all this f***ing false nine s***. But the manager knows what he is and Oli knows what he is. “I’m not saying he’s the greatest footballer in the world. He’ll put himself about. I always used to say, if I’m not going to have a good game, then I’m going to make sure that the two centre-halves are not going to have a good game. And that’s what he does.” Despite 18 new signings, maverick McBurnie is still Hull’s talisman. And even if he fails to reproduce his goal output, Windass says he can help keep them up in other ways. Most read in Sport He said: “I know him. I played golf with him when he was actually on a free transfer. He didn’t know where he was going and then Hull came around. SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Dean Windass will be at the MKM Stadium to watch Hull face Aston Villa Credit: Getty “He scored 19 and had a good season in the Championship. The one thing you’ll get from Ol is commitment – he’ll work his socks off. “It’s a different kettle of fish in the Premier League. Oli’s going to get very frustrated, he’s going to be working his socks off and he’s not going to get any benefits from it in some games. “But that is the Premier League, unfortunately, and he’ll try his n**s off, work tirelessly for his team, and have to be patient because chances are not going to come like they used to in the Championship. “Now he’s in a different environment playing in a team who are going to be underdogs every week in the Prem. It’s going to be a tough season for Hull and for Oli. But, they’ve had a great start against Man Utd and Coventry and he’ll give everything and inspire others.” While McBurnie towers above most people, he is dwarfed by 6ft 4in boss Jakirovic. And Windass says the big Bosnian is ideal to ensure the strapping Scot, who has hit headlines for incidents off the pitch in his younger days, shoots them to safety. He added: “I’ve not really met the bloke but he’s a big man. If he speaks then you’ll listen and he’s not afraid. “Listen, it’s going to be a hard season for all three of the promoted clubs but you’ve got six points on the board. “The owner has backed the manager with £135m but is that enough? For me, as a Hull City fan now, not as a footballer, if you finish fourth from bottom, it’s an unbelievable season.” He may have lots of new toys to play with, but McBurnie is one of Jakirovic’s favourites. Owner Acun Ilicali loves him too and rewarded the ex-Sheffield United man with a new three-year contract this week. Despite the love-in on Humberside, 16-capped McBurnie could still not win over Steve Clarke and was left out of Scotland’s World Cup squad. But with Sebastien Pocognol now at the helm of the Tartan Army, Jakirovic is convinced his man will get a chance to reignite his international career later this month. He said: “He already deserved the World Cup because he scored and had great numbers, statistics. He’s a leader without a captain’s armband. I expect that he will get the invitation for Scotland.” Windass is just as confident. He said: “He’ll be 100 per cent in the Scotland squad with the new manager. I was surprised with Steve Clarke not picking him with the goals that he scored. I think he was the top Scottish goalscorer apart from Lawrence Shankland. “I can honestly say that I’d be very surprised if he’s not picked. Now that he’s in the Premier League he’s got to be in the squad. Then it’s up to him to prove Clarke wrong and say, ‘You should have picked me’. The striker remains Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic’s talisman Credit: PA Lucas Herrington says training against Oli McBurnie is the perfect prep for English football Credit: Getty “Oli’s probably been gutted and I’d have been surprised too if I’d scored those goals in the Championship and never got in and wondering what I’d done wrong. “But now there’s a new manager, I’ll be astounded if he’s not in the next Scotland squad.” One man who did shine at the World Cup is Hull’s new £10m 18-year-old centre-half Lucas Herrington. And the Aussie is delighted to have him on his side, saying: “Yeah, for sure. He’s a bit of a pest to verse in training, so I’m glad he’s on my team. “I’ve watched the Premier League for so long, so I saw when he was at Sheffield United what he was doing. “He’s a great player and to have him in training giving me a bit of stick and making it tough is great for me. “We have a lot of good battles and it’s great for me to have a player like that to come up against in training. He does a lot for the team, works very hard and is a great player.” Comment now