Rio Ferdinand has hailed Scott McTominay as a player Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag can 'rely on in times of need' after his heroics against Brentford on Saturday.
United were set for a third consecutive defeat in all competitions before Scotland international McTominay came off the bench to score two goals in stoppage time and rescue victory for the hosts at Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old has risen through the ranks at United, first featuring under Jose Mourinho and since becoming an experienced figure in the dressing room, but has struggled for recent match time.
Minutes in midfield have been limited with Ten Hag preferring to use Casemiro, Sofyan Amrabat and Mason Mount in McTominay's preferred position, however, ex-United star Ferdinand believes Saturday's brace could lead to more regular game-time.
Ferdinand insisted Saturday's match-winning goals shows McTominay can be trusted by Ten Hag in future crisis moments.
'The manager now knows he can rely on Scott McTominay to come in and be focused and someone he can rely on in times of need,' Ferdinand said on his Five YouTube show.
'I am not saying McTominay is going to be the go-to guy when we are a goal down or anything like that but he has showed you he has a certain Man United spirit.
'Somebody brought up through the club, there is a lot to be said for his attitude and application in terms of driving culture at the football club,' he added.
McTominay has now departed for international duty with Scotland where he hopes to continue his rich goalscoring form with the national team in a bid to help them secure qualification for next year's European Championship.
The United star is second in the competitions qualifying goalscoring ranks, tied with Red Devils team-mate Rasmus Hojlund on six goals, while Romelu Lukaku tops the charts with eight strikes.
Saturday's victory was a moment of remembrance for United players who wore black armbands in honour of Sir Alex Ferguson's wife Cathy who passed away earlier in the week.
Ferdinand highlighted McTominay's goal at the end of the match would have been a touching moment for former United manager Ferguson who oversaw multiple last-minute goals during his time at the club.
'Beautiful moment, when you put it like that it's like wow, the manager would have been smiling with that,' said Ferdinand.
'There won't have been much smiling around the Ferguson house but I think after that he would have been thinking there is no better way I would have wanted this weekend to end for me personally.'
Bibb0
0
Not convinced , against Bayern he gave up when should of tracked back after losing ball to Upamecano and he was only on pitch for 10 minutes.
jikaentz
0
Love our legends for our glory days but in the present day I'm just fed up of them always yapping all the time 🚮, i know tht Man U is on of the biggest clubs in the world but the are bigger clubs out there but u don't see this much yapping from their Ex players as much as our ex players do 🤦🏾♂️
OliverKambwali
1
Mctominay's surprise performance in Brentford game was just an ' accidental success ' not that he is a consistent player, I mean check his performance in Bayern Munich match, he was so a wasted sub.. yes we celebrate his display of a show he did put up on Saturday but not that now is a player ETH should rely on, that's comedy show discussions. even Mctominay himself knows it was just an accidental success.
Jordon4u
0
I'm pretty certain you in debt of the difference between hype and praise for job well done.
I know what I’m saying, because of just one match Some Man United fans who were the same praising Casemeiro, now saying ETH should play Mctom more. It’s like Afalley scoring some winning goals in a match and all of a sudden Barca fans saying play him ahead of David Villa.
Vaaaben
0
No Lindelof, better to have Amrabat until Reguilon or Shaw or Malacia are back. Casemiro in a single pivot, until Amrabat comes in DM. Go for 4-1-4-1, more of an attacking option on wings. Garnacho, Scot, Bruno, Antony & Hojlund as offensive.
ONLY_ONE_REAL
0
Like all there fixtures is against brendford right
hilton85
0
Scott should be used as a striker along side Hojlund
Dbeast
1
I get he scored some important goals, but this hype is really too much. Players need to have some consistency first and hold that for at least a season or two before these hypes. You already hype them for doing nothing so how can they improve🤨.
I'm pretty certain you in debt of the difference between hype and praise for job well done.
Luzadkmruz
0
Ten hag this game just lucky,not every match can same this game
Jordon4u
1
I get he scored some important goals, but this hype is really too much. Players need to have some consistency first and hold that for at least a season or two before these hypes. You already hype them for doing nothing so how can they improve🤨.
santocr7
0
rehaekorty
2
Once the great Jose mourinoh said that he has found the replacement for the virus pogba at man utd. Scott mctoinay is a born mancunian. he is at the club since he was a baby and he brings the Scottish spirit. he should be used as an attacking midfielder like in the national team. in 2 years he should be the captain of man utd. our future captain marvel
JotaroKujo
4
Use this. When more defenders come back from injury swap em, put Rashford and Antony on bench until they get form back
jauceklnst
5
everybody forgot his performance against Bayern Munich..he can throw many stinkers before producing such match winner
KIINGKREZZ
3
No no no. This is ETH's biggest problem. Why rely on someone who should be getting a lot of game time. He should be part of starting 11.
Toyemnpstu
4
Managers should play him under the striker instead of box-to-box midfield
Apollonlimassol
4
I always rely this player
siwbdkmoyz
1
Seven hag should be kissing Mctomanaiy boots
Rufubulor
3
What a joke! They were all slagging him off last few matches. Berating him for not tracking back after losing the ball.
archive
1
yeah, MC tominay for life! the terminator