Not that he is in any danger of doing it, as he would readily admit himself, but even supposing Oli McBurnie ended the season as the English Premier League’s top scorer, he may still have had trouble forcing his way back into the Scotland squad if Steve Clarke remained in charge.
As it is, while he may not be the most prolific of goalscorers, McBurnie has shown more than enough even in these early stages of Hull City’s first season back in the big time to suggest he has plenty to offer the national side. And Sebastien Pocognoli clearly agrees.
The forward has been a standout performer as the Tigers have made a storming start to their EPL campaign. He was arguably the best player on the park as his side bullied Manchester United on the opening day, and he was outstanding yet again as he helped his team leave Stamford Bridge with a point at the weekend that was the least they deserved for their efforts.
On form alone, then, it is no shock to see him named in Pocognoli’s first Scotland squad, even if the news came as a pleasant, and somewhat emotional surprise for the 30-year-old, fully five years after the last of his 16 caps for his country.
Alongside the numerous fresh faces named by Pocognoli, there is a fresh start. Whatever bad blood there may have been before, it is now blood under the bridge.
“You know, when I arrived, I did not have any fixed perception about what had happened in the past, I just needed to make my own perception,” Pocognoli said.
“I just wanted to analyse the players who can fit what I want to produce on the pitch. Actually, the first consideration was that Oli can fit what I want to produce. After this, I called him and he was really excited to come back.
"He was a little bit emotional because it is a long time that he wanted to come back. But he does not want to come back with revenge in mind or something like this. He wants to be here in the timeline right now and he is in good shape at Hull right now. He just wants to continue this with the Scotland national team.
“When I mean emotional, you could see it in his face he was very happy. He was like, ‘Ah, I am back! This is where I want to be.’ Honestly, his performances will give him the stature and that’s the important thing, just to talk on the pitch. If he is doing that everyone will be behind him. Not only him, but all the players are the same.
“At each club you have players who are matching more or less with the manager. We all have moments in our life when we have arguments with someone, sometimes it is your boss. I did sometimes too when I was a player.
“I can imagine after five years he doesn’t want to be judged by this, because he has all the qualities. It is a new environment, he is older and it is a new experience. If I just fix on this [fallout with Clarke], it is not right. And If I feel I need to convince him, I would not have selected him. But he was really happy to be there. It is a fresh start for everybody.”
McBurnie’s larger than life and sometimes spiky personality may have jarred with Clarke, but these qualities are at least part of the attraction for Pocognoli to welcome the striker back into the fold.
“Yes, we need this,” he said.
“We need personality, a fighter. We need to recognise the leaders on the pitch. If Andy (Robertson) is not there, if John (McGinn) is not there, it can happen. I am not saying Oli will be that kind of leader, we will see.
“We have a camp. We have four games. We need to prepare for what is coming next and recognise who are the next leaders – or who can help Andy, John, Scott (McKenna) in that function.”
McBurnie forms part of what is a new-look Scottish attacking unit, with Robbie Ure, Kieron Bowie and James Wilson the other strikers named in the absence of the injured Che Adams and Lawrence Shankland, and ahead of Clarke stalwarts like Lyndon Dykes.
Excitement over that quartet may be tempered slightly in some quarters by the fact that none of them yet have a single goal for their country, though in defence of Bowie, Wilson and the uncapped Ure, they have a combined 42 minutes of action in the dark blue under their belts.
Pocognoli isn’t deterred though that McBurnie has yet to find the net in his 748 minutes across his 16 caps.
“He hasn’t scored – I don’t know why!” he said.
“It is a long time ago. He is not the same player, there are not the same teammates around him. It is the not the same structure that I want to bring in.
“I do not know to be honest. What he was doing last season, he has showed he can score goals. What he is doing now with Hull City he is working hard not only on the ball, but off the ball as well. it is perfect for the game plan of this coach, I can see this.
“We will see [who will lead the line]. Che is injured, he is also the type of player that I like, to be honest. He is not there and we have four strikers and we will see if we play with two strikers or one. Or more midfielders. We will see.
“We have four games so I imagine he will get some playing time.”
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