Sheffield United forward Oli McBurnie has been found not guilty over an alleged “stamp” on a Nottingham Forest fan during last season’s play-off semi-final defeat at the City Ground.
The Scotland international striker denied assaulting 27-year-old George Brinkley. McBurnie, 26, was alleged to have stamped on Mr Brinkley when he encroached onto the pitch after Nottingham Forest’s penalty shoot-out win over United.
District Judge Pyle questioned why Brinkley, who claimed to have bruises on his leg following the incident, didn’t take photos of them. Pyle added “what this witness describes and what is reality as far as evidence is concerned seems to diverge.” [BBC]
Now with this case buried, Oli McBurnie can focus on getting back fit, and pick up his form from where he left off before picking up his ankle injury against Rotherham United in October.
McBurnie had played through a hernia during the first part of the campaign. That didn’t stop United’s number nine from being a nuisance to defenders and putting the ball in the back of the net though.
Oli McBurnie is the club’s joint-top scorer in the league with nine goals, as well as being the Championship’s joint-top scorer along with his strike partner Iliman Ndiaye.
After going under the knife to remove a hernia during the four-week international break, McBurnie ideally would have worked on his recovery for that period of time but his ankle injury restricted him.
Now, he is injury free and focused on getting back that match sharpness. McBurnie came on for the final 9 minutes during United’s 1-0 home win over Huddersfield Town.
The Blades travel to Lancashire on Monday night to face struggling side Wigan Athletic.