GOING OL’
SCOTT HAS GOT THE LOT FOR WILLIE
SCOTT McTOMINAY is now the heartbeat of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United, says club legend Willie Morgan.
The midfielder (above) progressed through the youth ranks at Old Trafford and debuted in 2017.
Since then, he has firmly established himself as an important first-team player and a regular for the Scotland national team.
Morgan, who made more than 200 appearances for United and captained the side, reckons McTominay offers some much-needed steel to Solskjaer’s midfield.
“Bruno Fernandes beats people, creates and moves the ball quickly,” said Morgan, 76.
“But it’s McTominay who tackles and wins the ball for you like Nobby Stiles.
“He likes to get stuck in, which is important to have in any team.
“He’s been in and out of the side and has had a few different midfield partners.
“McTominay is a young lad and still learning, but I really like him.
“He might not be the most creative player although the playmakers can’t do what he does.
“It’s like the old team from my day – it was a blend of talents.
“Paddy Crerand, Bobby Charlton and Stiles, they were all completely different but it worked.”
McTominay, 24, was a second-half substitute in the dismal 0-0 midweek draw with Crystal Palace.
The result left United a hefty 14 points behind
Premier League pacesetters Manchester City ahead of today’s crunch derby clash at The Etihad.
But Morgan, who was signed by legendary United boss
Sir Matt Busby in
1968, says Solskjaer deserves respect for what he’s achieved.
“They have fallen away a bit, but the top three would be a miracle with the team he’s got,” he said.
“I’m a fan of Solskjaer
– even if he doesn’t get everything right.
“Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba, for example, I don’t think he should ever play them both at the same time.
“I’ve got two trees in my garden that are quicker.
“I’d also like him to play his best 11 consistently. But we’re riding high in the league and nobody expected that. Solskjaer is doing a good job.”
SIR
ALEX FERGUSON says he feared he would never be able to speak again after a brain haemorrhage. The revelation of how close the Scot came to losing his life is made in a new film, Never Give In, about his life.
In the film, ex-United boss Fergie, 79, reveals that five people were admitted to Salford Royal Hospital with brain haemorrhages on the same day, with only two of them surviving. He said: “I lost my voice, I just couldn’t get a word out. That was terrifying, absolutely terrifying. Everything was going through my mind, ‘Is my memory going to be back and am I ever going to speak again?’ “I would have hated to have lost my memory. It would have been terrible.”