Jim Duffy has drooled over on-loan Celtic star Oliver Burke and says he is the best option Alex McLeish has for Scotland.
He says if the Hoops attacker is the player that the manager should turn to when Scotland play Kazakhstan, as he thinks Burke has “improved” since making the move to Parkhead and has “fantastic pace”.
Duffy does not think that Burke is the whole package just yet and is not a natural striker – a position which previous Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers played him in – but says he is Scotland’s best bet with Steven Naismith and Steven Fletcher absent.
“He’s a long way from being the finished article for a frontman. But I believe Oli Burke is the best option Alex McLeish has at his disposal for Scotland in Kazakhstan. The Celtic loan man watched from the bench at Dundee yesterday. But he’d still be the player I’d turn to if I was in Alex McLeish’s shoes on Thursday,” he said in his Scottish Sun column.
“I didn’t always see him as a centre-forward, but I do think he’s improved since he’s gone to Celtic. He’s maybe not a natural frontman, but with Steven Naismith out and Steven Fletcher unavailable, I think he’s the best bet for Big Eck.
“He has a decent touch, he holds play up, he can link well and if needed he has fantastic pace that Scotland can use to exploit Kazakhstan. Allied to the wide players we have, I believe he can do a good job in Astana.”
OPINION
Duffy is absolutely right here – McLeish should definitely make the most of Burke with the likes of Naismith and Fletcher not available. He has been in fantastic form for Celtic since arriving on loan from West Brom, and there is no reason why he cannot replicate that for the national team. Some may view Burke as being a last resort, but with the talent that he has, he should not be considered like that in the slightest. He thoroughly deserves to start on merit against Kazakhstan, and the team will no doubt heed the benefits of his regular game time. Yes, he is not a natural striker, but he has shown he has the ability to adapt to different positions during his time at Celtic so far. Fingers crossed that he can make an impression on McLeish if he is started during this international break, as the star will return to Celtic a much better player.