McTominay storming up the goalscoring charts of Euro 2024 qualifying
Scott McTominay emerged from rain-lashed Hampden as one of the most lethal goal machines in Euro 2024 qualifying… not bad for a defensive midfielder out-of-favour at Man United
- Scotland have had a fine start to Euro 2024 qualifying, winning four from four
- Crucial to that has been the goalscoring form of Man United’s Scott McTominay
- The midfielder has five goals in just four games, one more than Kylian Mbappe
After Alex McLeish battled through blizzards at the height of the Beast from the East storm in February 2018 to persuade Scott McTominay to play for Scotland, the then national team boss was thrilled to hear the player pledge his allegiance to the cause.
Yet few would have guessed that, five years on, Manchester United’s defensive midfielder would emerge from the Biblical rain lashing Hampden on Tuesday night as one of the most lethal goalscorers in Euro 2024 qualifying.
Initially deployed as a ball-playing centre-back by Steve Clarke, McTominay is revelling in a more attacking role in the centre of the park.
Against Georgia in midweek, his energy and dangerous deliveries into the box were bettered only by his deadly finish that wrapped up a vital 2-0 victory.
Remarkably, it was his fifth goal in four qualifiers — ranking him ahead of Kylian Mbappe and alongside Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Scott McTominay kept up his fine form for Scotland as he scored in their 2-0 win over Georgia
McTominay has now netted five goals in four Euro 2024 qualifying games for the Tartan Army
With six goals each, only Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku and Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund have scored more in qualifying.
McTominay’s goal glut is a long way from his breakthrough season at Old Trafford in 2017-18, when he impressed but failed to score under the master of the destructive arts, Jose Mourinho.
It was only later, under the management of legendary former United star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, that he started adding goals to his game.
Solskjaer, who scored the dramatic late winner in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, was aware of McTominay’s past as a striker for the club’s Under-21s and encouraged him to find the net more often.
‘Scott’s a clinical striker of the ball,’ the Norwegian boss said previously. ‘He used to play as a striker and he finishes with authority.
‘It’s like: “Bang”, finish! No messing about! No safety! He’s a goal threat in the box and he’s got a good strike on him. He has really developed that part of his game.’
Last year, then-United manager Ralf Rangnick predicted a glowing future for McTominay at Old Trafford.
‘He is an academy boy and his energy is amazing,’ said the German coach. ‘He now scores goals and he also has some leadership skills. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in a couple of years, he is the captain of this team.’
His current coach, Erik ten Hag, did not use him as often last season and there has been talk of a move to Newcastle, Everton or West Ham this summer while United chase Chelsea’s Mason Mount.
Against Georgia his energy and dangerous deliveries into the box were absolutely exceptional
Scotland boss Steve Clarke deserves credit for unlocking McTominay’s attacking potential
McTominay is not alone in finding Scotland duty offers respite from tough times. The likes of John McGinn, Kieran Tierney and Billy Gilmour have all previously enjoyed being away with the national team when their club careers have hit a bump in the road.
The 26-year-old was described by Clarke as ‘an oval peg in a round hole’ when he used him on the right side of a three-man defence, but Scotland are now reaping the benefits of his attacking abilities and instinctive finishing.
On a personal level, the midfielder has perhaps used international duty to issue United and others with a timely reminder of his worth.
In March, he climbed off the bench to score a double at home to Cyprus. Three days later, he repeated the feat with two goals in an unforgettable 2-0 win against Spain in Mount Florida.
Tuesday night’s goal in the 2-0 win over Georgia kept Scotland on top of Euro 2024 Group A with a 100-per-cent record from four games.
Whatever difficulties he is going through at club level, he revealed the secret to his Hampden goalscoring heroics was a pep talk with Clarke on the first day of the national team camp in March.
‘I spoke to the manager and he said: “I don’t think you’re playing with a smile on your face, and I want to see the smile come back out”,’ revealed McTominay after his double against Spain.
The midfielder is often under-appreciated at Man United and could the club leave this summer
Scotland are on a roll, having won four from four in qualifying so far and they top Group A
‘That was the first day I arrived and I thought: “Do you know what? He is right”.
‘I felt the smile did need to come back on my face, and I need to start enjoying football and playing like I love it.
‘That’s sometimes hard when there is a lot going on in your life. When he said that, I went back to my room and thought he’d hit the nail on the head there.
‘I got my head down and concentrated on my football, and that’s all I need to do.’
With five goals in his last four Hampden appearances, a player who pledged his allegiance to Scotland during the Beast from the East has looked at his very best in the west.
Add another goal or two in a victory on the road in Cyprus in September and Scotland’s place in Germany next summer would most likely be secured.
It would also further enhance McTominay’s glowing reputation as an international dangerman and the new darling of the Tartan Army.
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