McGinn hails Steve Clarke for turning McTominay into a goal machine for Scotland
Never has a Scottish side, international or club, won here in Seville. But none of them had Scott McTominay, the man who has outscored Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Cristiano Ronaldo in Euro 2024 qualification.
Steve Clarke is without defender Kieran Tierney for the match against Spain in which a draw would confirm their place at next summer’s finals in Germany, and once over that would mean McTominay slipping into his back three.
Not now, not when he is Europe’s most potent international midfielder with six goals from five matches. Only Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, on eight, has more in qualifying.
McTominay’s scoring form extended to Manchester United at the weekend, coming from the bench in the 86th minute to net twice in stoppage-time and snatch a 2-1 victory over Brentford. Afterwards, his club posted the words: ‘Scott McTominay appreciation tweet’.
Those goals may well have saved Erik ten Hag’s job at Old Trafford, and Scotland’s John McGinn believes the Dutchman has Clarke to thank.
‘Steve Clarke came in and pushed me higher up,’ said the Aston Villa midfielder. ‘He obviously noticed something in my game that he felt could help the team. And he has echoed that with Scotty, he has pushed him higher up. The credit I will give the gaffer, Villa have copied that with me, and Ten Hag has copied him as well.’
Of McTominay, McGinn added: ‘He is so athletic, he gets in the box and hits the ball harder than anyone I have ever played with, so it’s no surprise he is getting goals.’
After 215 appearances for United, was it about time McTominay’s club ‘appreciated’ him?
Clarke said: ‘Scott is one of the boys that has been driving the team forward over my time as head coach. I am appreciative of what he does and of what
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