Scott is showing he can step up
3 2 what SCOTT McTOMINAY has taken a while to silence the doubters.
But the midfielder is providing a timely reminder that it still takes a pretty special player to make it as a homegrown youngster at Manchester United.
Perhaps more difficult to convince are the United fans, who are hungry for big stars, demand success and still associate McTominay with the dog days of Jose Mourinho.
But McTominay, 22, tore around the pitch against Leicester, dominated midfield and, in what was an injury-ravaged United line-up, stepped up to the plate when the victory was more about character than performance.
The same went for Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back, while winger Daniel James did well again. Marcus Rashford won and scored the all-important penalty and centre-back Harry Maguire was outstanding against his former club.
United midfielder Nemanja Matic, 31, who made his first Premier League start of the season, says ability has nothing to do with age as young players get their chance at Old Trafford.
Matic said: “I don’t believe in age, good players or bad players. It doesn’t matter if you are 18 or 35, who played deserved to play.
“Manchester United is giving opportunities to the guys who grew up here in the academy. And that’s good because in big clubs they don’t always get opportunities because of the pressure and the results, and because everyone wants to win.” MAN UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea 7; Wan-Bissaka 7, Maguire 8, Lindelof 7, Young 7; Matic 6 (Fred 67, 6), McTominay 9; Pereira 6, Mata 6 (Chong 70), James 6 (Tuanzebe 90); Rashford 7. Goal: Rashford 8 pen. LEICESTER (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel 7; Pereira 6, Evans 7, Soyuncu 6, Chilwell 7; Ndidi 7, Choudhury (Perez 57, 6) 7; Gray 6 (Barnes 68), Tielemans 6, Maddison 7; Vardy 6.