17 February 2024 , 20:30
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Scott McTominay would love to remove the 'Super Sub' moniker, which has seen the Manchester United midfielder compared to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Like the legendary Norwegian, McTominay has made a habit of coming off the substitutes bench and impacting games with late goals, many of them earning three points for Erik ten Hag’s side.
Four of his seven Premier League goals – he is the club’s leading scorer – have arrived as a substitute. Scotland have also benefited from his dramatic winners although under Steve Clarke he has usually started games.
It’s bittersweet for a player who has been associated with United since the age of five and has done the hard yards and continually seen the club bring in big signings to cast him into the shadows.
But a fighting spirit has ensured some moments under the spotlight, his latest at Villa Park last Sunday with another winning strike after being released from the substitutes bench.
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Former United star Rio Ferdinand knows this can’t go on much longer for a player who is now 27 and has been courted by other Premier League clubs including West Ham and Newcastle United.
“I think he’s got a big decision to make at the end of the season,” Ferdinand observed. “Does he want to stay at Manchester United and be somebody that comes on and impacts games at times or does he go elsewhere and be a main regular player in that team?”
There’s no doubt there have been times of despair and exasperation at once again not starting matches but like Solskjaer who regularly turned games coming on as a substitute, there have been no public protests, no berating of his situation.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was known as a Super Sub at Man United (Getty Images)After all if you’re not a United A-lister you just have to grin and bear it. “Whenever the club brings in amazing players like they have done ever since Manchester United has been created you have to show yourself and show you are capable of having a spot in the team.
“It’s nothing to do with the other players we all want the same goal and that’s for the team to be successful. You want to be part of that. As long as I’m ready to play at the weekend that’s all that matters to me,” he explained. “It’s not about me, me, me.”
The biggest blow to McTominay in recent years came with the departure of Jose Mourinho who he admits along with his one-time reserve team coach Warren Joyce was a huge influence on the Scotland international’s career.
It was Mourinho who insisted that McTominay received an impromptu award at an end-of-season dinner and quickly concocted the ‘Manager’s Player Of The Season’ category. To everyone’s amusement he left with a candlestick holder, the only thing they could find.
“He was the one who gave me my chance and saw something in me to have a future in the first team. I owe him a lot and my family love him. He was demanding but I loved that.” he added. Ten Hag evidently loves McTominay as well – but not enough to start him regularly.
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