Match of the Day host Gary Lineker cannot believe that Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has struggled to get a look in under Erik ten Hag this season
Gary Lineker is amazed that Erik ten Hag has not been playing Scott McTominay
Gary Lineker has questioned Erik ten Hag’s decision to overlook Scott McTominay amid the Manchester United midfielder’s dazzling displays for Scotland.
McTominay, 26, has clocked up over 200 appearances for the Red Devils since breaking into the first-team fold but has fallen down the Old Trafford pecking order this season.
The United academy graduate has featured for just seven minutes in the Premier League this term, despite the fact he has been in a a rich vein of form for his country, netting six goals in seven European Championship qualifiers. His first-team hopes have been further impacted by the deadline-day arrival of Sofyan Amrabat.
However, Lineker is of the opinion that Ten Hag has made an error by overlooking McTominay this season. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast prior to Scotland’s defeat against England, The Match of the Day host said: “I notice Scott McTominay playing and getting in the box a lot. He scored again in this game; he scored a couple in the game first time against Cyprus.
“He’s top scorer in qualifying. It’s nuts, yet he’s not really getting a look in at Manchester United. Someone will go for him surely?” McTominay was linked with a transfer away from Old Trafford in the summer transfer window and was reportedly the subject of a £30million bid from West Ham and late interest from Fulham.
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McTominay has been in sizzling form for Scotland but has struggled to get a look in at Manchester United (
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Although Manchester United were understood to be open to sanctioning a move, they rebuffed the Hammers’ bid and will keep McTominay on their books at least until the transfer window reopens in January.
Speaking on Tuesday night, Graeme Souness also questioned Ten Hag’s decision to overlook McTominay. He told Channel 4: “He’s what you’d describe as a box-to-box player. He’s playing in a position where he’s arriving late into the box, with his size and his athleticism, he’s going to get there.
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“It’s no trouble for him, ok, we see him scoring goals, and this is what we are highlighting, because he’s our top goalscorer, but when it doesn’t happen for him, he’s got the energy and athleticism to get back into his position when we don’t have the ball.
“He’s a threat because of his size and the timing of his runs and that timing of your run, you get better at that with age, it’s something you can learn. There are some parts of the game you never learn, but he will keep learning that. I think for Man United, I think he would walk into Man United’s team.”
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