Oliver Burke has told Scotland manager Alex McLeish that he is willing and able to lead the line as Scotland prepare to open their European Championship qualifying campaign.
The striker, on loan at Celtic from West Brom until the end of the season, has been included in the national side for the first time since a friendly against Canada in 2017.
Fresh from a successful Nations League campaign, Scotland open their qualification campaign next week with games against Kazakhstan and San Marino and Burke has told McLeish that he can answer the striking dilemma.
With Steven Naismith injured and Leigh Griffiths still out of football as he deals with personal issues and Steven Fletcher not in the squad, it looks as though Burke will be asked to take up the forward berth.
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And Burke is confident he can replicate a role that has yielded four goals since his arrival at Celtic in the January transfer window.
“I’m more than happy to play there especially now that I’ve been doing that tole here at Celtic,” said Burke. “I’m more comfortable to do it with the national team because that’s a role I’m now used to.
“I’ll do my very best in training and show what I can do and hopefully that gives me the opportunity. I’m happy to be there and back in the fold and enjoy the whole experience.
“I’m really enjoying the striker role. I’m still learning a lot as it’s all very new to me.
“I think it’s been really successful here. I like that position a lot but I think it’s also important to have the flexibility to play in different positions. If something happens in a game you can swap and change. I think it’s gone really well playing as a striker and hopefully I can keep learning the trade in that position and continue.”
Departed Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers spoke of Burke’s natural inclination to drift towards the channels rather than make a beeline for the box, and the 21-year-old has admitted that retuning his own instincts has been something he has had to work on.
“When you are a winger that’s why you head for the corner flag - hit the byeline and cross it in.”
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