Oli McBurnie takes all the flak and abuse that comes his way.
As a £20 million footballer in the public eye, it goes with the territory. And the Scot doesn’t shy away from his mistakes. He holds his hands up to what he’s got wrong, on and off the pitch. But you know what arguably hurts the most? When he’s out for dinner with his girlfriend, chatting to fans or passers by, he hears: ‘We thought you were a c*** but you’re actually alright’. McBurnie can smile about the colourful language and he’s pleased when people see the real him. But deep down, the Sheffield United striker is upset at the bad boy reputation he now has.
Anyone who knows McBurnie knows it's unfair. If you asked most - if not all - of his current or former team-mates, negative vibes would be few and far between. But he knows he hasn’t helped himself.In July 2020, he was banned from the roads for a drink driving offence.
And earlier this year, McBurnie was controversially charged with common assault after allegedly stamping on a fan at the City Ground during a pitch invasion after a match against Nottingham Forest. He’s due to stand trial next month and strenuously denies any wrongdoing.
As well as the off-field issues, McBurnie endured a torrid two years on it as well. Injuries, a loss of form, relegation from the Premier League and a change in manager, all contributed to a turbulent time for the 26-year-old.
But he’s back. After not scoring for 11 months, he’s got nine goals in 17 games this term under Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom. And if it wasn’t for needing a quick hernia operation during the World Cup break, he would surely have been in contention for a Scotland return in the recent friendly against Turkey.
McBurnie is in a good place again. He’s always had a strong character. But mentally, he’s been tested to the limit recently.
And he’s convinced that he’s emerged as a better person for it. In an exclusive interview with Mailsport , he said: “It’s funny because when I’m out for dinner and meet people who come over, I’ll chat to anyone. People who know me, know I’m like that anyway.
"But the most common thing anyone says to me - and even my missus has noticed it - is: ‘I thought you were a c*** but you’re actually alright’. I’ve heard that so many times now.
“I do get this reputation that I know has been self-inflicted at times. But I’m a kid playing football at a high level and under pressure.
“I’ve made mistakes, I’ll always hold my hands up to that and I’ll take my licks when they come. But I’d like to think I’m not a bad lad.
“On the pitch, I can be quite antagonistic. I always get told that people would like me in their team but not against them.
“That’s just my passion. I’m a winner, I want to win all the time and I’ll do anything to help my team do that.
“Sometimes, I get a bad reputation that might be a little bit unjust. But this season feels like a new start for me, a new chapter in my life.
“I feel like I’ve matured and I’ve grown a lot mentally. Without sounding arrogant, I know that I’m one of the main players at Sheffield United now and I’m going to be playing if I do well. That brings out the best side of me.
“When I was in and out of the team, it felt like I was trying to do things I wouldn’t normally do to impress and stay in there. But when you know you’re a mainstay, you can relax and play your own game.”
McBurnie has had to defy the odds for his whole career so far. As a kid at Bradford and Chester City, he was written off - and even ridiculed at times in Scotland - for his name and unorthodox style.
At Swansea City, he was shipped out on loan three times before eventually earning a big-money move to Sheffield United. The huge price ex-boss Chris Wilder paid for him put extra pressure on his shoulders.
But McBurnie says he’s now better equipped than ever to deal with it. He said: “I’ve always had mental strength. But it has definitely gotten stronger over the last two years. I’ve found out a lot about myself during that time.
“My career has always been on a steady up or increase. I hadn’t had too many downs.
“But in the last couple of years, with injuries, illness and not playing as well as I’d like - it was tough. Mentally, it’s hard because you can’t switch off from it. It’s difficult to go home and not think about the fact you’re under-performing.
“It was a tough couple of years but I’m proud of myself that I got through it the way I did. I’ve learnt a lot about myself as a person.
“Before, I probably took the good stuff for granted and expected it always to be like that. Now, I think I’m a lot more appreciative and I understand the work that it takes to stay at the level I want to be at.
“The price tag was definitely a factor. If I’d have signed here on a free transfer and performed the say way I wouldn’t get half the scrutiny.
“But I know that’s what comes with it. Thankfully, my old man is always there for me. He’ll hammer me when I deserve it but he’ll also give me that little boost when I need it too.
“My little brother plays football so it’s good to be able to speak to him because he’ll go through the same at some stage. And to be fair to my missus, she’s as good as gold.
“She understands that when it hasn’t been going well for me, not to bombard me with questions or constantly speak about football. Having that good support network around me has helped me through a tough stage in my career.
“The only way to deal with something like that is hard work. You have to just crack on and I’m seeing the results now.”
McBurnie is now joint top scorer in the Championship and flying again. After almost a year without hitting the back of the net, his strike against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road in August sparked a dazzling run of form.
He said: “It’s been a good feeling to feel like I’m getting back to my best. It has just reaffirmed the confidence I’ve always had in myself.
“I don’t think I’ve ever lost belief but there are always times when you’ll doubt yourself. You think: ‘Maybe I have lost it’.
“I just kept telling myself that you don’t lose the knack of scoring goals overnight. I put a lot of graft in over the summer to get myself right and it’s paying off.
“When I finally scored against Luton, I didn’t get much sleep that night! It was what I needed. It was an instinctive finish and I don’t remember much about the celebration because my emotions took over.
“Now, I believe I’m going to score in every game I play now and that’s the way I was a couple of years ago.”
After ending that long drought for his club, McBurnie is now targeting a first goal for his country and admits his lack of Scotland goals haunts him. The £20 million Sheffield United striker hast won 16 but hasn’t hit the back of the net.
McBurnie was part of Steve Clarke’s squad when they reached the Euro 2020 Finals but missed the tournament through injury. The 26-year-old is now back to his best in the English Championship and desperate to get back involved with Scotland.
He told Mailsport : “Scoring for Scotland is the one thing in my career that is always haunting me.
“I feel like I’ve always under-performed for the national side. Maybe I’ve tried too hard at times but I just feel I’ve let myself down for Scotland.
“The Scottish fans haven’t seen the real side of me yet. On Stuart McCall’s first day at Sheffield United he took me into the office and said he’d get me back in the squad.
“He saw me in training and was surprised how good I was. Because he said I’d been s***e for Scotland!
“It’s something that means so much to me and my family. The only way I can get back into the gaffer’s plans is by performing well at club level.
“I just have to keep going and hopefully force my way in.”
McBurnie believes the current Scotland side has evolved immeasurably since he first joined the squad under Alex McLeish and then Clarke. And he’s convinced that if he’s given another opportunity, he’ll get the goals he craves.
He said: “The boys have been unbelievable recently. There has probably been a bit of a transition.
“When I was in the squad we probably weren’t at our best and it wasn’t a great time for the country when I was first called up, in terms of how we were playing. But the way they’re playing now, they go into every game expecting to win.
“There are chances for the strikers. It’s been frustrating because I’ve watched the games thinking: ‘I’d love one of those chances’. Playing for Scotland again is something that’s definitely on my mind.”
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