Oler Gunnar Solskjaer has singled out the ‘proper professional’ that is Scott McTominay when discussing the Manchester United players he ‘loved’ working with during his time in the Premier League hotseat.
It’s a word which has been used to describe the Carrington graduate on a very regular basis over last few months. Scott McTominay, the arch ‘professional’.
Erik ten Hag, after the Scotland international rose from the bench to thump home yet another winner away to Aston Villa, was keen to paint McTominay as an ‘example for many other players’ during his post-match Match of the Day talk. Embracing his supersub role and putting side before self.
Scott McTominay is Manchester United’s goalscoring hero
Ten Hag’s Old Trafford predecessor – the legendary Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – knows a thing or two about life as a ‘supersub’ himself.
And the former Manchester United boss had nothing but praise for McTominay either when interviewed by Andy Mitten for The National, looking back with fondness on his time alongside the 27-year-old in the Red Devils dressing room.
“I loved a midfield of Fred, Scott and Nemanja (Matic),” Solskjaer says, McTominay the only one of the three still at Man United two-and-a-half years after the Norwegian’s heart-wrenching departure.
“Proper professionals who give it everything. You know what you’re going to get and as a manager it’s nice to know what you’re going to get.
“It’s the worst thing ever when you don’t know if a team is going to turn up or not.”
Solskjaer ‘loved’ Scott McTominay
That – Solskjaer’s final point – has been one of the main criticisms aimed towards Manchester United in recent years. From famine to feast and back again. Inconsistency in both performance and results has blighted the club with countless highly-talented players failing to live up to expectations.
The hope is that, with new (co)owners and a new structure in place, Ten Hag will be given the support and the backing Solskjaer so clearly craved.
Manchester United host Fulham on Saturday after four league wins in a row. Their best run of 2023/24. McTominay is likely to begin the game on the bench again. But, if United need a goal, you just know who Ten Hag is going to call upon.
“He is quite sharp with his finishing in the box. It’s like touch, bang,” Fulham captain Tom Cairney tells The Footballer’s Football Podcast. “I remember the one at Brentford at home when they came back (from 1-0 down). I don’t think that ever leaves you.
“And his record at international record is ridiculous as well. He’s Scotland’s top goalscorer (in European Championship qualifying) by a mile.
“At some point, the manager surely has to have a feeling like ‘oh my god, surely I need to get this guy in my team’. Goalscoring midfielders are rare these days.”
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