6 SCOTS WHO CAN TAKE THE EPL BY STORM
Kieran Tierney (Arsenal)
The record breaker. The best player produced, from scratch, by a Scottish club since… well, let that debate continue. Coming through the Celtic academy, everyone knew the kid had talent. He’s worked ferociously hard to make himself strong enough for the Premier League, putting muscle on a naturally athletic frame. Arsenal fans clearly hope they’ve got their own Andrew Robertson. If he stays fit and plays regularly, even they might be surprised by what he can do.
Scott McTominay (Manchester United)
A summer of transfer speculation has, so far, come to nought for McTominay — a player apparently central to the plans of United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. It’s tough for a player of any nationality just to get a start for one of the richest clubs on the planet. There are no guarantees, then, for the campaign ahead. But his versatility may yet see him feature regularly as United look to reassert themselves at the business end of the table.
Ryan Fraser (Bournemouth)
There was a time there when it seemed everyone wanted a piece of Fraser, whose reputation as a devastating game-breaker — either blitzing opposing defences with his pace or laying on chances for strikers — putting him on the hitlist of several major clubs. Arsenal and Liverpool both showed interest in the former Aberdeen kid, whose 14 assists last season put him level with Eden Hazard in England’s top flight. More of that and he’ll be moving for crazy money soon.
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)
No one disputes the Champions League winner’s position at the top of the Scotia Nostra; he is the capo del tutti capo of our lads down south. Among the most important players in a side who conquered all of Europe last season, there’s a reason why Robertson is so popular at Anfield. And it has as much to do with his grit, drive and determination — qualities without which no Scottish player can hope to play in the senior game here — as his quality in defence or on the ball.
John McGinn (Aston Villa)
Villa have spent somewhere in the region of £150million this summer. Yet they’ve still made retention of McGinn a priority. The former St Mirren and Hibernian midfielder hit the English Championship like a wrecking ball last season, driving Villa to promotion via the play-offs. Now he’s got a new five-year contract intended to fend off interest from, among others, Manchester United. He’s earned it.
Oli McBurnie (Sheffield United)
The target man impressed in the Championship last season, scoring 24 goals for Swansea and earning a £20million move to the Premier League newcomers. The 23-year-old has seven Scotland caps to his name.