As Scott McTominay made his first Premier League start since injury, Nemanja Matic hailed the young midfielder’s potential at Manchester United.
Matic described McTominay as the second coming of himself, noting the way he takes on instructions from managers and fellow players. The 22-year-old scored on his return from injury against Club Brugge last Thursday.
The Serbian has had a resurgence at United since the festive period when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought him back into the side. Paul Pogba’s absence has only made Matic’s recent good form more valuable.
McTominay return from injury is big boost to United
But it’s McTominay who many United fans have missed more than Pogba and Matic believes he has a big role to play at the club over the next decade.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live ahead of United’s away trip to Everton, Matic described McTominay as “a very important player for us.”
“He’s very professional. He has a lot of quality and he’s a great character,” Matic said.
“I like to see him how he trains, how he plays. I’m sure in the next 10-15 years he’ll be very important for United. Every single day he gives his best, and that’s the main difference between players. He has a great mentality.”
Matic hails McTominay as leader of United’s future
McTominay has been a favourite of United’s last two managers, with Solskjaer utilising the Scot’s energy and efficiency in midfield just as much as predecessor Jose Mourinho.
Matic’s recent excellent form has left some United fans wishing he was younger. He’s approaching his 32nd birthday now and his contract is up at the end of the season. Matic believes McTominay can take on a similar role in the United team.
“When I see him, I can see myself 10 years ago,” Matic continued.
Asked how the two are similar, Matic said that it’s “in the way that he approaches training and games, in the way he listens to coaches and other players.
“You have to see him training, how he behaves before and after training, so I think that Scott is a complete football player, he’s exactly what Manchester United needs.“
It’s high praise from Matic, a seasoned midfielder across multiple leagues and a Premier League title winner.
McTominay’s importance to United has been put down to the lack of quality elsewhere in the squad but he’s one player you’d mark down as certain to be involved even if United start to compete seriously for trophies again.
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