Oliver Burke has aimed a dig at West Brom, claiming that some of his new team-mates at Celtic Park have “better quality” than what Albion had in the Premier League last season.
Burke, 21, made just 15 league appearances for the Baggies during his debut season at The Hawthorns and struggled to get into Darren Moore’s side in the Championship following the Black Country club’s relegation.
The Scotland international has been played regularly up front by Brendan Rodgers since joining Celtic on loan in January and his form has drastically improved as well.
He now claims that the Hoops possess players that are better than who he played alongside at both West Brom and RB Leipzig.
“When you look at the Scottish boys I think they are very much underrated,” he said, as quoted by Open Goal. “Scottish football is sort of looked down upon, I don’t know why.
“Some of the boys in the Celtic squad I am now playing beside have better quality than what I played with in Germany or in the Premier League with West Brom.”
OPINION
Burke is hardly going to come out and criticise his new team-mates, he was always bound to talk up the Celtic players once joining them. Burke had a miserable season and a half at West Brom, appearing 21 times across all competitions, scoring just one goal in the process which came against League One side Luton in the Carabao Cup. However he has found his stride in Scotland, scoring three goals and supplying two assists in seven total appearances for the Hoops. While Rodgers does have a strong squad at Parkhead and Celtic do have some players that could play in the Premier League, it is clear that his form in Scotland is based on the quality of his opponents. During his time at West Brom Burke has looked out of his depth, even in the Championship. It just goes to show it’s a lot easier to score against the likes of St Mirren and Hibernian when all you could score against in a season and a half at West Brom was third-tier side Luton. That is why Scottish football gets looked down upon.