THE BIG-GAME SPECIALIST WITH A FLASH OF FLETCHER
IT was none other than Jose Mourinho who first detected the potential for Scott McTominay to become a Special One. It is a well-told tale but at the end of his breakthrough season at Manchester United in 2017-18 the Portuguese boss demanded a Manager’s Player-of-the-Year award be created on the spot for the emerging young midfielder.
A seasoned winner of European trophies, what Mourinho had spotted in the Lancashire-born Scot was on show on Wednesday night to a global audience as the 24-year-old was the best player on the park in the Europa League final as United lost on penalties to Villarreal.
Former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson has watched McTominay’s progress with interest and admiration.
He believes the United midfielder has developed into a big-game specialist, similar to another Scot who was a first name on the team-sheet on European nights under Sir Alex Ferguson.
And McTominay’s display in the Stadion Miejski in Gdansk on Wednesday merely cemented a growing opinion that Steve Clarke will deploy him in the engine room at Euro 2020.
‘Scott McTominay is a quality player, no doubt about it,’ said Ferguson. ‘He outshone Paul Pogba, a World Cup winner, in the Europa League final.
‘I’ve always thought he was a good player but the last 12 months or so he’s gone up a notch or two. Now he’s one of the top men for Manchester United.
‘He’s turned into a big-game player. That’s very similar to Darren Fletcher when he was at Manchester United. He was always one of the first picks for the really big games.
‘I thought Scott was excellent when he played in the middle of a back three for Scotland but I prefer him in the middle of the park. I think he will be used in midfield by Steve Clarke at the Euros.
‘I’m also disappointed at Ryan Jack being injured because he’s another player who has gone up a couple of levels and he is so important for both Rangers and Scotland. But McTominay will be one of the main players for his country this summer.’
In a recent Q&A, Clarke described McTominay as the best player he has worked with at international level, despite not playing in his favoured position.
The feedback from his contacts in the game tells Ferguson the Manchester United midfielder also has Champions League attitude and application.
‘What you hear in the football world is he’s a top professional,’ said Ferguson. ‘You don’t play at a club like Manchester United if you don’t have a top-class mentality. I can’t speak highly enough about Scott McTominay.
‘He’s got everything. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s powerful, he can pass the ball and he’s started to add goals.
‘Scotland’s midfield is full of top players and McTominay is one of them. John McGinn is another. Callum McGregor would probably admit himself he’s not had the best of seasons at Celtic but he’s another top player. And there’s the wee man from Chelsea...’
Ferguson is a huge fan
19-year-old Billy Gilmour, who has just earned his first Scotland call-up ahead of the Euros and next week’s pre-tournament friendlies against Holland and Luxembourg.
At a similar age, Ferguson was chosen to start against England in a Euro 2000 play-off at Wembley in 1999 and he believes Gilmour would thrive if chosen by Clarke for the huge Group D clash on June 18.
‘Could Billy handle that kind of occasion at Wembley? Yes, I could watch Billy play 24/7,’ said Ferguson. ‘That’s the biggest accolade I can give him. I just love guys who want to take the ball under pressure. ‘When Chelsea played against Man City the other week, there he was telling guys who are valued at £50-60million to just give him the ball. ‘He is a beautiful footballer and now I can see him physically fill out a bit as well. I don’t buy into any of the nonsense about his size. He’s a top, top footballer and don’t be surprised if he battles his way into the starting XI for Scotland.’ Ferguson was the best Scottish midfield man of his generation but he says Gilmour, whom he sees as the future of the national team, is in another league entirely.
‘Do I see myself in him? No, he is at a different level,’ he said. ‘I think he can be anything he wants to be — and don’t be surprised if he is a main starter for Chelsea next season.
‘He’s got everything you need to be a top midfielder. He runs games in the Premier League, he demands the ball and he takes it under pressure.
‘The two players I love watching the most just now are Billy and Manchester City (and England’s) Phil Foden. It would be great if Phil was Scottish, too.
‘But Billy Gilmour is going to be the central midfielder for Scotland for the next 10-15 years.
‘I love that Steve Clarke has also picked David Turnbull and Nathan Patterson for the Euros.
‘I think they are also players that Scotland can build their team around for the next 10-15 years.
‘Turnbull was a bright spark in a difficult season for Celtic while Patterson came in for Rangers captain James
Tavernier — who was having the season of his life — and he was just phenomenal. ‘When they get on that training pitch with Scotland the senior guys will realise just how good these youngsters really are. I think they are three top, top young players.’ Ferguson (below) was speaking after succeeding Peter Grant as the new manager of League One club Alloa Athletic. His three-year spell at Kelty Hearts ended in celebration on Sunday after the Lowland League champions beat Brechin City in the pyramid play-off final to win promotion to League Two. But he feels he is now at the perfect club to take his managerial career on to the next level. ‘I felt now was the time for a new challenge,’ he said. ‘Over the years the guys that have been at Alloa — Paul Hartley, Jack Ross and Jim Goodwin — are good managers and they have all progressed very well in the game. ‘This feels like it is the right club at just the right time for me.’