Man United’s McTominay key for Scotland as they look to make their mark at Euros

Since Scott McTominay’s masterful performance in Scotland’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, he has developed into one of struggling Manchester United’s most consistently solid players in an otherwise horrendous season for his Premier League side.

McTominay, whose versatility means he can play in almost any position, will shoulder much of the responsibility at the finals in Germany if Scotland are to write history and advance from the group stage at a major tournament for the first time.

The 26-year-old midfielder scored seven goals in qualifying, one fewer than England’s Harry Kane and one more than Manchester City’s Norway striker Erling Haaland, and was rewarded with Scotland’s 2023 men’s player of the year award.

McTominay – born in Lancaster, England, but eligible to play for Scotland through his father – has also scored a career-high seven league goals for United this season, and 10 in all competitions, including a key strike in a thrilling 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final home victory over Liverpool.

McTominay was dubbed “super sub” when he came on with three minutes remaining against Brentford at Old Trafford in October with manager Erik ten Hag seeking a lifeline. The Scot delivered, with goals in the 93rd and 97th minutes in a 2-1 victory.

While McTominay was used frequently in Scotland’s defence during Euro 2020 and its build-up, his scoring knack has been on full display for club and country, and he recently said he much prefers playing as an attacking midfielder.

“The manager (Steve Clarke) asked me if I could do a job bringing the ball into midfield and defending, obviously, whenever the opposition had the ball,” McTominay told reporters in late March. “That was fine, it was no problem.

“I’ve always seen myself as a number eight and someone who likes to carry the ball and get into the box and score goals and make things happen.

“But I’m not going to spit my dummy out and say I don’t want to play, that’s not in my nature, in my whole way growing up through the (Manchester United) academy.

“I had to play up front in the Under-21s a couple of times just because that was what was best for the team and I look back with great memories of that.”

Scotland are playing in back-to-back European Championship finals for the first time since 1996 and hope to plot a route out of the group stage for the first time in 11 international tournaments.