Oli out to build on return to goalscoring form

Oli McBurnie wants to make sure of a strong end to the season for Swansea City after getting back among the goals.

The 22-year-old nodded home Barrie McKay’s floated cross against Stoke in midweek to ensure the Swans won three league games in a row for the first time in almost two years.

It was also the first goal for McBurnie in over a month after the striker missed game time in March through illness. It took him to 19 for the season, tantalisingly close to the 20-goal mark, and he is determined to end the campaign strongly after a difficult spell. 

“It has been a frustrating time. Everyone who knows me knows I love playing football," he said.

“Illness meant my playing time was a bit stop and start before the international break and then it was tough to get back in the team because the lads were playing so well.

“But I was confident I would come back stronger and would find the net again. Now my focus will be to build on this in our final six games.”

McBurnie says he now has his ambitions set on breaking through the 20-goal margin for the Swans, which includes a tally of 17 in the Championship.

If he can achieve the feat he will be the first Swansea player since Wilfried Bony in 2014 to net 20 times in a season.

But it is not just individual goals that the striker has his sights set on, and helping Swansea snap a six-game losing run on their travels at QPR on Saturday is chief among them.

“After the international break the gaffer said he wanted to win the final 10 games," added McBurnie.

“We did not quite manage it against Forest, but we want to go out there and show how good we are.

“We have done that now at the Liberty, but must now turn our attention to doing it away from home as well.

“Confidence is high and we want to rectify our away form with some decent results and what better way to do that than to go into this weekend off the back of three home wins with excellent performances.

“We will be targeting to win the rest and I want to add to my tally in the process. It has been frustrating for me because I know I am capable of scoring more.

“The missed games mean I have some catching up to do. Every time I step onto the pitch I want to score. Hopefully I will get another chance on Saturday to do that.”