Oliver Burke’s Scotland heroics were fully deserved last night against Cyprus.
The West Bromwich Albion winger has had a torrid season that started with just five appearances for WBA during the first half of the season. In swooped Celtic to take him to Glasgow for six months, before the manager who brought him in, Brendan Rodgers, departed for Leicester.
Burke struggled for form after a promising start to his Parkhead career. Three goals in his first six matches had us all wondering if we had picked out a diamond in the rough. Turns out we hadn’t. Burke’s performances during the final three months of the season were dreadful, as he struggled with basics like ball-control, balance, and finishing into an open goal on one occasion.
But last night he fully deserved his moment in the spotlight. Burke is a hard-worker, and he proved that during his time at Parkhead. His winner against Cyprus to give Steve Clarke a winning start to his Scotland tenure was no more than the Scots deserved.
Burke came on as a second-half substitute, and did plenty of running after doing so. His goal came from his own terrific, towering header coming back off the post. He then buried the rebound to give Scotland a crucial injection of hope.
Hopefully, this can help Burke push on in his career. He could do with a positive pre-season with the Hawthorns outfit. But what his goal hopefully doesn’t mean is any renewed interest from ourselves.
There haven’t been any reports of Celtic being interested in Burke since his departure. No follow-up bids or even mild speculation. But after his goal last night, hopefully, it stays that way.
A raw talent, but just not what we need right now
Burke remains a raw talent, but he’s just not good enough or consistent enough to return next season. Considering West Brom splashed out £15million to get him two years ago (The Guardian), he likely wouldn’t be cheap either.
Burke’s time at Celtic was a rollercoaster ride with far more downs than ups. Celtic also are already well covered in Burke’s primary position down the right. As for the striking roles, we have Odsonne Edouard, a returning Leigh Griffiths, and Vakoun Issouf Bayo available to battle it out.
The former Leipzig man still can have a big future in football. He looks like a player who just hasn’t been coached properly, and hasn’t been able to develop the technical ability his athletic attributes deserve.
A few months ago, this would’ve been a deal many supporters would’ve liked to see happen. But after his time at Celtic came to an unceremonious end, opinions have fair changed.
Burke can always say he was part of the squad to have won the treble treble. And he did his bit too with some crucial performances at the likes of Tynecastle and Easter Road for instance.
But his time here ultimately fizzed out without many real individual positives. Hopefully, the Scotland goal gives him the boost he needs to kick on in the Championship. But at the same time, hopefully it doesn’t persuade us to have another crack with him.
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