RISING STAR SCOTT’S AN AUTO-MATIC PICK
NEMANJA MATIC thinks Manchester United team-mate Scott McTominay can become “an England star” – which will not go down well in Scotland.
Matic has joined the growing fan club of the midfielder, 21, having played alongside him in his first Premier League start of the season against Bournemouth.
McTominay was born in Lancaster but qualifies for Scotland through his father, who spoke to interim manager Malky Mackay about a potential call-up to face Holland last month.
But the player has yet to make his international choice, instead opting to focus on breaking through at Old Trafford.
Matic, 29, said: “He has exactly what he needs to become a big player.
“He is working a lot every day and is looking to the older players to take things from them and to learn.
“I’m sure he will be a star for England and Manchester United because I think he is born for this job.
“The manager is there to explain to someone like Scott what he needs to do and I’m really happy for him because he’s a good guy.
“I’m sure in the future he will get more chances to play and show his qualities.”
McTominay is likely to return to bench duty for today’s trip to West Brom but Matic has no doubt his growth will continue as long as he focuses properly.
And the Serbia international has vowed to do whatever he can to aid the youngster’s progress although he does not see himself as his direct role model.
“When I was young I just tried to copy the older players – how they work and how they were as professionals,” he said. “But we are all different and you cannot try to do what the other players do because one player has one quality and you might have another.
“I think the young players just need freedom – you don’t need to put extra pressure on them.
“They have enough pressure, so you have to try to release them a little bit and then they can show all their quality.” DOUBLE ACT: McTominay and Matic