Grant knew Scott’s class at first glance
PETER Grant saw Scott McTominay make his debut in senior football for Manchester United when he came on as a late substitute against Arsenal at the end of last season and thought he was watching a seasoned Premier League player in action.
The tall 20-year-old strolled through the closing stages of a game that was being broadcast live on television and played out in front a crowd of 60,055 supporters.
So, the rise of the holding midfielder, who has become a regular starter at Old Trafford under Jose Mourinho in recent months, has come as no surprise to Grant.
“I was actually at his first game and didn’t know he was Scottish,” said the man who new national coach Alex McLeish has appointed as his assistant. “The first thing I saw was ‘Mac’ and I was laughing saying: ‘He must be Scottish!’
“He was magnificent. I remember thinking: ‘Wow! Where has he come from?’ He was like an old pro. He used the ball very well, played with an enthusiasm and understanding. Then you find out he could play for us.
“I’d never heard of him before that day. I looked at him and thought: ‘He can’t be Scottish because he’s 6ft 4in, passes the ball really well and is playing in central midfield for Manchester United in a big game against Arsenal’. He was outstanding.
“I have watched him closely since. Then I found out he’s Scottish, that he wants to play for Scotland and now you’ve got a chance to work with him.”
Keeping his place in the United team will not be easy for the Lancashire-born and raised player who qualifies to play for Scotland through a father who hails from Helensburgh.
He may have kept Paul Pogba out of the side, but there is intense competition for places at the English behemoths. How much longer can the youngster continue to keep them out? There are no guarantees despite his early success.
Grant, though, has always been a glass half-full kind of guy.
He is convinced that McTominay has benefitted from training and playing alongside his close friend Michael Carrick in recent years.
He also believes that coming through the youth ranks when former boss Sir Alex Ferguson was involved at the club aided his development.
“It’s a great opportunity for young Scott,” he said after preparations for the friendly against Costa Rica at Hampden on Friday night got underway.
“He has been able to learn from a top player like Michael Carrick, one of the best midfielders in Britain.
“He came in last night and was very humble. That quality has maybe got him as far as he has. You see a lot of young players who play once for the first team and think they are a player.
“You can tell with Scott he has been brought up the right way, with Sir Alex. He comes in with his eyes open as if he is willing to learn and is excited about playing.
“Some guys turn up now and want the footballer’s lifestyle, but they don’t want to put the work in. If you said to them they weren’t playing on Saturday it wouldn’t bother them.
“I was a player myself. I played over 100 games and was still cleaning boots.”