BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
FORMER Scotland star Kenny Burns reckons Oliver Burke took a “huge gamble” by moving to the Bundesliga – and was thrilled to see the first signs of it paying off against Borussia Dortmund.
Burke, 19, became the most expensive Scottish footballer of all time when he joined Red Bull Leipzig from Nottingham Forest in a £13 million deal and he was immediately pitched into action from the bench on Saturday night.
He wasted no time in making an impact in front of his new fans, dashing to the byline before delivering a pin-point cross for fellow debutant Naby Keita to bag an 89th minute winner against Thomas Tuchel’s German giants.
And Burns, a Forest legend after winning consecutive European Cups during his own four years at the City Ground, was impressed by Burke’s eye-catching cameo.
“It was great to see Oliver Burke make his debut for RB Leipzig in such spectacular style at the weekend,” he said in his column for the Nottingham Post. “I’m really pleased for the young man.
“For me, it was a huge gamble to leave Nottingham Forest for Germany. He’s 19-years-old and moving to a country where he doesn’t speak the language. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a footballer or a factory worker, that’s a big change.
“I was surprised he went there, but he’s a good player. He’s got a load of potential but he’s far from the finished article. I hope people don’t put too much pressure on him.
“While it’s surprising he went to the Bundesliga, being away from the scrutiny of the Premier League could be a good thing, if he can adapt to German football and life quickly.”
