KANE WONDER GOAL
Scott is willing to fight for a place at heart of Ole’s United
HARRY KANE scored an incredible 50-yard goal against Juventus to taunt former Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny the way Nayim did with David Seaman in 1995. The striker, left, found the net from the halfway line in the dying seconds, right, to give Tottenham a last-gasp 3-2 victory in the International Champions Cup clash here. Kane said it ranked among the top five goals he had scored. “Yes, definitely. Coming in a friendly means it didn’t mean as much but, in terms of the strike, it was right up there with the best of my career,” he said.
SCOTT McTOMINAY is backing himself to be part of the future at Manchester United – even if manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer splashes out on a new midfielder.
With Ander Herrera having left on a free transfer, McTominay is hoping for much more exposure after playing 22 games for his club last season.
And even though United have been heavily linked with £55million Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, McTominay says he is not worried.
“Regardless of what other signings come in or who plays where, you have to back yourself to be a Manchester United player,” said the 22-year-old Scot.
“That’s one thing I’ve done over the last two years, always backed myself. I’ve tried to train hard and I’ve always wanted to do extra things to give me that one per cent difference.
“When it comes to crucial times in big games like Barcelona or PSG it’s important you’re ready for them. I’m ready to be a regular starter. That was my goal two years ago.”
McTominay, who played the last hour of United’s 1-0 win over Inter Milan here yesterday, added: “My main ambition is to be a regular No6, No8, a box-to-box player, and it’s important that I really go for that now.
“There’s an opportunity there and you have to take it with both hands. Last year I had some decent performances and it’s important I carry on from that.”
In a bid to hit the pre-season running, McTominay recruited former United reserve manager Warren Joyce – Salford City’s new head of youth development – to put him through brutal fitness sessions.
“I’ve had a pre-season with Warren – he’s mad!” McTominay joked. “He’s a top, top man but some of the preseasons we used to have with him at the academy were ridiculous. It has been good to have one like that this year, though. The running and training hard are perfect but it’s the details that we’re trying to get right this pre-season.”
Indeed, Solskjaer and his coaching staff have set the players a demanding training regime in the Norwegian’s first pre-season in charge, designed to ensure there is no repeat of the tail-off of last season.
Statistics from United’s pre-season training in Perth and Singapore – the first two stops on their tour – have shown a marked improvement on this time last summer.
McTominay said: “It’s going to plan. There are still things we need to work on and aspects of our game that each individual player has to work on. It’s important we take all the information on board.”
United defender Luke Shaw said: “Pre-season has been very difficult. But the sessions have been great and the fitness is coming along nicely. The fans can expect a much better season.
“This season I’m sure they’ll be celebrating again, hopefully with trophies at the end of it.”