The phone call that saved Hull star McBurnie’s season

Oli McBurnie feared his chance to terrorise Premier League defences again and end a five-year exile from Scotland duty had gone for good. He was wrong on both counts, as it turns out, and Hull City are now reaping the benefits of a remarkable renaissance which has fuelled hopes of survival. McBurnie’s 19 goals fired Sergej Jakirovic’s men to an unlikely promotion last season, with his dramatic late strike securing a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final. It was not enough, however, to earn the 30-year-old striker a place in Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad. New head coach Sebastien Pocognoli, by contrast, selected McBurnie and started him in all four of Scotland’s recent Nations League matches. McBurnie thought his career was over – now he is back terrorising defences (Photo: Getty) McBurnie, who has scored twice in his last two top-flight appearances, tells The i Paper: “There were definitely times when I thought that dream was over – both playing for Scotland again and getting back to the Premier League. “Five years is a long time but certain things happen and it shows that one good season, and a change of manager, can change everything and you’re back in the fold. “There were also times when I thought a recall might have come sooner. “It never did, but being recognised and called up for your country and playing at the top level is what you want to be doing. “He [Pocognoli] FaceTime’d me asking if I was free and I was just sat at home with the missus and kids.“He said he’d been watching me and spoke of his plans for me, so it was hard to keep the smile off my face! “My family were delighted and came up to watch the games at Hampden because everything I do is for my kids. “I never thought they’d get to see that but they have so that’s been great. “I was really impressed with the gaffer and learnt a lot – I probably should have had a couple of goals. “But he started me in all four games and, whatever happens now, I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to represent my country again.” Tigers fans are happy to see him back scoring goals in the top flight (Photo: Getty) McBurnie joined the Tigers on a free transfer in August 2025 after spending the previous season in La Liga with Las Palmas. The former Sheffield United frontman has flourished under the charismatic Jakirovic, adding: “The gaffer’s man-management is brilliant. “He knows how to speak to you in every situation, whether that be on the pitch or sometimes it’s not even about football. “He might just bring you into his office for a chat to crack a joke. “He’s not a dictator in terms of it being his way or the highway. “Of course he will go into a match with a gameplan but if it’s not working he’s not afraid to throw it out the window and completely change everything. “As a group, that suits us and me as a player as well. “I can play in a couple of different ways but ultimately he’s given me the freedom to go out and play how I want to play by getting into positions to score a goal. “I’m enjoying dropping in and getting on the ball a bit more and helping make us hard to beat.” Confounding the critics is fuelling Hull’s push for survival, with McBurnie explaining: “It was probably the easy thing to say that we were going to be the worst Premier League team ever. “Within our dressing room we’ve always had belief because we deserve to be here. “Getting off to a good start was vital for us and that’s exactly what we did by beating Man United and Coventry in our first two games. “We’re happy with where we’re at and we just need to maintain our momentum because we haven’t achieved anything yet.” Read more Big read: The unlikely rise of a Hull City cult hero Rival watch: How Sunderland plan to save Regis Le Bris – with January signings ahead Hull are built on togetherness and McBurnie is certainly not afraid to put his body on the line. He cracked a rib during the recent 2-2 home draw with Brentford, which left him coughing up blood, and is also nursing a broken finger. McBurnie adds: “It was a challenge with Aaron Hickey, who I played with for Scotland – and I hope he didn’t actually mean to do it! “But he caught me right in the solar plexus and, having cracked a rib last year in the Championship, I’ve done it again. “I told the doc ‘I’m coughing up blood’ but he said ‘it’s alright’, so I just cracked on. “I broke a finger a couple of weeks earlier against Everton – it snapped in half during a tackle. “All the boys in the dressing room are cut from the same cloth and since I came here we’ve played through injuries and with injections.” Reflecting on his journey with Hull and his return to the Scotland fold, McBurnie smiles: “It just shows that you should never stop believing.”