Scott McTominay portrait

How Fletcher's advice helped McTominay

Thursday 22 March 2018 09:02

Scott McTominay has revealed how former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher gave him some guidance, en route to the brink of his maiden Scotland match.

The 21-year-old is set to become the first member of a senior United squad to represent the Scots since Fletcher faced England in November 2014, shortly before he left the Reds to join West Bromwich Albion in February 2015.

McTominay was just a teenager at the time but he had occasionally been able to work with the senior professional at the Reds' Aon Training Complex, an experience he still appreciates now.
"There are many players I have learned from but Darren was certainly one," said Scott this week in an interview with ScottishFA.co.uk.

"He trained with us a couple of times when I was younger and I did look to him as a real role model and a leader at the football club. It's the same with Michael Carrick and people like that who've really helped me improve."
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McTominay recalled how he caught up with Fletcher more recently, during this impressive campaign that has led to the young Red being selected by Scotland’s head coach Alex McLeish and linked with Gareth Southgate’s England squad, given his Lancaster birthplace.

"When we played Stoke earlier in the season, I spoke with Darren and he was really good with me. He just said 'Keep going, keep doing what you're doing and keep looking to improve every day by working hard.'

"They are the same messages I get every day from the manager [Jose Mourinho] and from the boss here as well, Alex McLeish. I feel these messages are so important for me. I need to listen and hopefully I can do well for my club and my country."

McTominay feels Mourinho's daily messages are "so important for me"
McLeish has already made a big impression on the young United midfielder by going to Manchester to meet him, ahead of the senior call-up that has made Scott's family so proud, in particular his dad's predominantly Scottish side.

"He travelled a long way to come to speak with me and I have to thank him for that," said Scott.

"The conversation was relatively simple, though. I wanted to play for Scotland and I always have done since I was a young boy. It was an incredibly proud moment for me and my family when he later called me up to the squad. Hopefully I can kick on now."

How McTominay found his voice

 Article

Stepping into the first-team squad is daunting but, as Scott explains, there comes a time when you have to speak up.

McTominay’s first training session with the national team was only a light one - "some of the boys had played a match two days before" - but by Friday night, he'll be well and truly ready to take his United form onto the international stage if he's picked to play against Costa Rica at Hampden Park.

"I'm an honest player who wants to put every single thing he's got onto the football pitch," he stated, when asked to describe his style. "I want to drive with the ball and make some quality forward passes as well.

"Hopefully I can be a success with Scotland in the future if I get a chance."