Paul Ince hails ‘the only’ Manchester United ace who has shades of Roy Keane

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Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince believes the Premier League giants are suffering from a lack of leaders in Erik ten Hag’s squad with Scott McTominay the only one he mentions in the same breath as the legendary Roy Keane.

Say what you want about Scott McTominay’s qualities in possession, his suitability to Ten Hag’s system, the Carrington graduate certainly knows how to grab a game by the scruff of the neck.

With six already, McTominay is Manchester United’s top scorer this season. It is not merely the number of goals, meanwhile, but the timing of them that has earned the Scotland international Ince’s seal of approval, McTominay hitting a brace against Chelsea two months on from his stoppage-time heroics versus Brentford.

Scott McTominay is Manchester United’s top scorer

“I look at McTominay, I think he’s the only one who’s got a bit (of leadership about him),” Ince tells talkSPORT (12 December, 12pm), bemoaning the lack of Roy Keanes and Steve Bruces in this current Red Devils roster.

“(McTominay is one of the few) who wants to change the game.

“Where’s all the leaders gone? As a team, you still have to have game management. I look at (when United were 3-1 up at) Galatasaray. Shut up shop! They gave up a two-goal lead (to draw 3-3). That’s not all down to the manager, that’s down to the players (as well).

“It’s a quiet, quiet team. No one is getting hold of people, organising them, understanding the game. That’s where Man United are at.”

Bruno Fernandes suspended for Liverpool trip

It speaks volumes that Rio Ferdinand, also in conversation with talkSPORT, struggled to predict the man who will inherit Bruno Fernandes’ armband with the captain suspended for Sunday’s trip to arch rivals Liverpool.

Amid doubts about whether Ten Hag would be willing to give Harry Maguire the captaincy again – having stripped him of the role over the summer – Ferdinand wonders if Luke Shaw could don the armband for the very first time on arguably the most unforgiving stage of all.

“But I don’t know who (Ten Hag) will go with,” Ferdinand sighs. “There’s not many names jumping off the team sheet.

“Luke Shaw, maybe?”

Manchester United face Bayern Munich tonight before travelling to Liverpool in a potentially punishing week for Ten Hag and co.