Scott McTominay's Life in Numbers

The 26-year-old ensured United picked up a vital three points against Brentford in the Premier League last weekend with a match-winning brace, and is likely to feature for Scotland in both of their matches during the October international break, against Spain (Euro 2024 qualifier) and France (friendly). 

Ahead of the first of those fixtures tonight (Thursday), you can enjoy a new numerical-themed interview with Scott below, in which he recalls his first senior goal, representing Scotland and more, as he takes us through a handful of the significant numbers associated with his career to date...

20: The age Scott made his senior debut

McTominay made his first appearance for United's first team as a 20-year-old, against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Scott recalls his memories from that day, where he had mixed emotions following the game ending in a 2-0 league victory for the home side.

"Obviously we lost, so not very good. But yeah everyone was excited," said Scott. "There was a good photograph of me and Jose Mourinho at the time - I love that photo. That's in my grandparents house everywhere, that's something I will never forget. 

A day later, McTominay also faced the Gunners' Under-23s side, with full focus on continuing his development for further opportunities with United's senior players. 

"After that, I played in the Under 23s game the next day and just went for it, you let the shackles off. [I was thinking]: 'Go for it, go and show yourself as someone who can play in the team. Show someone you can get in the box, you can score goals, you can do things that some of the players at the time might not have been doing.' So that's what I wanted to do and just to prove myself. 

"Other than that, everyone else behind the scenes is all excited, [saying]: 'Oh, you've made your debut' and stuff like that. Where I wasn't really like that, I was like: 'No, let's go, this is the time now.'"

39: Shirt number for the Reds

Since his debut for the Reds, the midfielder has donned the no.39 shirt. Scott revealed whether there was relevance behind this particular number. 

"No, it was just by chance, it just got given to me and that was it. Now I see the number 39 everywhere - I get in the car and it's 39 minutes past all the time. I just never change it, it's weird. All my family and friends see the number all the time.

"It might just be a coincidence and stuff like that, but it's a strange one. I would never change that number now."

43: Appearances for Scotland

McTominay is a key figure for his national team, playing a pivotal role in their strong start to the Euro 2024 qualifiers. He was asked what his favourite memories are from his time with Scotland so far. 

"All of them, to be fair. I don't really look back and see things as bad times. I see them as chances to have a little look at it and see what might have went well, and what might not have went well, and take it on the chin. Whatever the weather, I'll always be somewhat smiley at the end. Maybe a day after, if we lose.

"Whenever your career is done, you never look back and think, that game. You do but you always look back and think: 'That was an experience and that was an experience.' It's all good and if I have children, I can say to them and pinpoint things like: 'Look what happened here.'

"The next game you might have been down but then you go and score two goals, because that's exactly what happened at Scotland."

28: Career goals for United and Scotland

McTominay has 21 goals for United and seven for Scotland so far. In the interview, he reflected on his first strike for the Reds in 2019, and his desire to keep scoring. 

"Yeah, so that was Wolves away - mixed emotions really. I'm not really one for if I score, I've done great. You see that a lot in football, where you'll get players who have scored and they think they've done the job and they've done great, when really they probably haven't. 

"But on that night, I actually did alright - I played well and I scored. And it was obviously good to get the first one, because once you get the first one, that's a catalyst for [thinking]: 'I can do it and I know I can do it. I've got a good strike, and I can shoot well, left and right foot.'

"And then just go and do it more often. That's something I kill myself [for] all the time, just say: 'Go and get in the box, be ruthless and score, like you know you can do it.' I think that was more of a catalyst than anything."

2000: Scoring United's 2000th Premier League goal

Our no.39 found the net in a 3-1 victory against Norwich at Carrow Road in 2019, which was United's 2000th Premier League goal. 

"I think that was quite an important goal for where we were at the time as well. Just being alive in the box and being quick with it, not being on your heels and sleeping in the box. Whenever there's a chance for a goal to in the back of the net, you need to take it, and I've always thought like that. 

"People always say, you played as a striker as a kid. I never played as a striker, I played two games there with Warren Joyce - we had no striker. Whenever I score a goal, people say, you used to be a striker but I never used to be a striker - I've always been a midfield player, a number eight. 

"The goal was good, it was an important one, obviously. It was the 2000th Premier League goal for Manchester United, which was a pretty special accolade to have."

26: Scott's current age

The Academy graduate spoke about his development as a player growing up and how he's "raring to go".

"I feel like I'm 22, it's true. It's technically the right way of looking at it - I didn't start playing until I was 19, 20. And I actually didn't grow until I was 18, 19. Some lads have been early developers since they were 13, 14 and they're already 10 years into the being a man process. 

"Where as I'm not even there yet and I'm 26. So it does make a difference, stuff like that, as long as you look after yourself. I'm fresh, I feel like I'm still young and I'm raring to go. I want an opportunity to do well."