A YEAR TO REMEMBER FOR THE DARLING OF THE TARTAN ARMY

SCOTLAND 3 CYPRUS 0 March 25, 2023

A year ago yesterday, Scotland’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign got off to a flying start with a 3-0 win over Cyprus at Hampden. John McGinn got the scoring started in the 21st minute but the victory wasn’t secure until substitute McTominay popped up with two late goals. He finished smartly from a tight angle after Lyndon Dykes’ 87th-minute knockdown before a cool finish in stoppage-time added some gloss to the scoreline.

SCOTLAND 2 SPAIN 0 March 28, 2023

On a raucous night at Hampden three days later, McTominay notched another brace. Only, this time, it was against the former world champions, the Manchester United man’s effort from Andy Robertson’s cutback deflected in via Inigo Martinez to give the Scots an early lead. But it was to get even better. Kieran Tierney drove half the length of the field five minutes into the second half, his cross looped up off David Garcia and landed on the left boot of McTominay, who slammed into the bottom corner. Clarke’s side held on to their 2-0 lead on a famous evening in Mount Florida.

NORWAY 1 SCOTLAND 2 June 17, 2023

No goals this time for McTominay but a tireless performance in the Oslo heat ended with a surging late run and cross that helped set up Kenny McLean’s 89th-minute winner. That goal completed a stunning comeback to put the Scots firmly in the driving seat in Group A after Lyndon Dykes had levelled just two minutes earlier following Erling Haaland’s penalty.

SCOTLAND 2 GEORGIA 0 August 20, 2023

Another memorable night saw the Scots taking an early lead through Callum McGregor before play was suspended at a sodden Hampden. The Georgians didn’t want to come back out to complete the game, and McTominay proved why in the 51st minute with a superb left-footed strike from 18 yards that sealed a 2-0 success.

Goal machine: McTominay scores vital goals against Spain (top), Georgia (middle) and Cyprus (bottom) during the qualifying campaign

CYPRUS 0 SCOTLAND 3 September 8, 2023

Scotland were chasing a fifth straight win and got off to a flier six minutes in, when McGinn flicked on a Robertson cross and McTominay dived in to score. He then teed up McGinn to make it three before half-time after Ryan Porteous had added a second.

SPAIN 2 SCOTLAND 0 October 12, 2023

A campaign of highs threatened to reach stratospheric levels when McTominay curled in a spectacular free-kick in Seville to put the Scots in front. But the effort was ruled out by Dutch referee Serdar Gozubuyuk, seemingly for an infringement on the goalkeeper by Jack Hendry, with the reason later being given as offside. There was further pain to come as Alvaro Morata and Oihan Sancet gave La Roja a 2-0 win. It meant Clarke’s men had to wait to clinch their place in Germany when Spain beat Norway in Oslo a few days later.

GEORGIA 2 SCOTLAND 2 November 16, 2023

McTominay made it a magnificent seven for the campaign in Tbilisi. He appeared to have the ball caught under his feet, but rifled a low effort in from 18 yards to make it 1-1 just after the break in an eventual 2-2 draw.

SCOTLAND 3 NORWAY 3 November 19, 2023

The Scots ended a successful campaign with a 3-3 thriller at Hampden. McTominay finished as joint-fifth top scorer in qualifying, trailing only Romelu Lukaku, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe and Harry Kane. Decent company.

NAMED SFWA INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF YEAR March 24, 2024

McTominay is voted Men’s International Player of the Year by Scotland’s football writers.