AfriPulse
Scott McTominay now has 39 caps for ScotlandIn February 2018, a moment of national importance was taking place in Greater Manchester.
From the outside, Manchester United’s Carrington base appeared the same as any other Premier League training ground. More pitches than a Glastonbury camp site, and a row of fancy cars worth almost as much as the new Scotland top.
Inside, though, a tug of war was about to be won.
At one side, you had Gareth Southgate, the England manager. At the other was his Scottish counterpart Alex McLeish. The prize? A 21-year-old by the name of Scott McTominay, whose international allegiance hung in the balance.
What Southgate didn’t bargain for, though, was that McLeish also had then-United boss Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson keen to have a quick word with the English-born midfielder.
Suffice to say Mr Southgate didn’t stand much of a chance.
Fast forward five years and four goals in two games, and McTominay is a national treasure helping a rampant Scotland – hopefully – plot a course towards Euro 2024.
Sensational Scotland stun Spain’Classy & clinical Scots give coming of age show”Six points doesn’t qualify you’ warns RobertsonPodcast: ‘There’s no reason this team can’t get to the Euros’As a youngster reared in the Manchester United academy, the man with a father from Helensburgh was originally gifted his first United contract as a teenager. In terms of vouching for someone’s ability, that’ll do.
“Sir Alex Ferguson was keen for Scott to play for Scotland as well. He was up front about it,” his grandfather Frank saidexternal-link in 2018.
“Sir Alex has been very good with Scott over the years. He gave him his first contract with Manchester United when he was 16 before he retired and then made sure it was extended when he was 18. He seems to get on well with him.”
You just wonder what his old mentor would have thought watching his young protege blaze a trail Spain could only dream of stopping. In a sizzling performance as Scotland barnstormed their way to a 2-0 win, McTominay had ice in his veins.
His international debut came in a dismal defeat by Costa Rica not long after McLeish’s Carrington sojourn, but from a modest start McTominay’s reputation in a Scotland strip has swelled.
Scenes were set off in October 2021 when he bundled in a last-gasp Hampden winner against Israel for his first goal. Another two were added against Cyprus on Saturday in yet another finishing masterclass.
And on the occasion of his 39th cap on Tuesday, McTominay excelled once more.
His opener after seven minutes had a slice of luck, while his timing and finish to put Scotland in a commanding 2-0 lead after the break had the predatory instinct of a seasoned striker. Given that’s now four goals in two games, maybe add that to his growing list of positions?
“We did really, really well,” he said on Viaplay. “We knew they’d have lots of the
Source: BBC Sport | Read More
