OLI McBURNIE admits he will be a tenth of the player when football returns behind closed doors.
The Sheffield United striker, 23, is desperate for the Premier League to restart next month following the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Sheffield United frontman Oli McBurnie fears he will be less effective without fans to inspire him for the rest of the seasonCredit: AFP or licensors
It’s moments like this with supporters that Oli McBurnie will miss most if and when the Premier League season resumesCredit: Getty – Contributor
But McBurnie concedes he will find it difficult to reproduce his all-action displays with no fans in the stands.
McBurnie, who cost Chris Wilder’s side £20million last summer, added: “I’m a player who thrives off the fans.
I feel like I’m ten times the player when the fans are there compared to when they are not.
“They give me such an edge and the way I play I feel like I need the fans. But we have to look at the realistic situation.”
McBurnie has helped the Blades to force their way into contention for a Champions League spot.
We are desperate to get back… and to have it end in an unprecedented and irregular way like it is at the minute would be such a shame.
Oli McBurnie
With Manchester City currently banned from Europe’s top competition for the next two seasons, fifth place in the Premier League would be enough for qualification.
Wilder’s men are only two points off fifth-placed Manchester United with a game in hand in the run-in.
And McBurnie, who was playing for Swansea in the Champions League last season, wants to cap off a remarkable season by swapping Rotherham for Real Madrid.
The Scot told broadcaster Sioned Dafydd: “It’s crazy to think that within a year I could go from mid-table in the Championship to playing in the Europa or Champions League.
The New York Stadium to the Bernabeu would be something special.
“As a footballer, you want to play at the highest level as you can and test yourself against the best players.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to play at the very top. I’ve played international and Premier League football so to add Champions League football to that would be remarkable.
“We are desperate to get back. It’s been a magnificent season from all the boys and to have it end in an unprecedented and irregular way like it is at the minute would be such a shame.
There’s no reason why we can’t keep pushing on and do something remarkable this season.”
Blades’ hero Oli McBurnie is hoping to add to a ‘crazy’ year or so by qualifying for the Champions League Credit: Getty Images – Getty
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
