Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom vows to push Oli McBurnie further as goal drought ends
- Planet Sport writer
- 27 August 2022
Paul Heckingbottom felt Sheffield United striker Oli McBurnie deserved his first league goal in nearly two years after helping the Blades to a 1-1 draw at Luton.
The 26-year-old volleyed home from close range with eight minutes gone in the second half, scoring for the first time in a league fixture since December 2020.
Carlton Morris opened the scoring for Luton in the 10th minute, thought the Hatters failed to hang on to their slender advantage as Sheffield United climbed to the top of the Championship.
Heckingbottom hailed McBurnie's contribution, saying: "I'm delighted by his goal. It can't just happen, you can't just go on the pitch and perform if you don't prepare right, if you don't live right. You can't, it's just too tough a league.
"I know what he's capable of, I know he's capable of more, and I'll be pushing him until he gets to the level or he can't do it, because otherwise I'm doing him an injustice and I'm not doing my job properly.
"I'm pleased for him and delighted because he's worked hard."
On the result, Heckingbottom added: "I'm disappointed we didn't win. Full credit to Luton, we knew it was going to be tough and I've just watched a few of the things back and everywhere we knew they'd be a threat, that's what caused us the problems.
"But then flip that the other way, when we passed the ball we looked a good side and we really stepped against them in the second half. I thought we were the team that was going to go on and win it.
"You look back and it's a good point here, especially from being behind."