SCOTLAND are planning to jump all over a tip from The Special One.
Jose Mourinho has predicted Scott McTominay could become a first-team regular for Manchester United after seeing him sparkle in a friendly against Real Madrid during their pre-season preparations in the USA.
Though born in England, the 20-year-old midfielder has already stated his allegiances lie north of Hadrian’s Wall, where his grandparents were born.
And having followed his progress, Scot Gemmill plans to give him his wish by naming him in his squad to go to Holland for the Under-21 European Championship tie at the beginning of September.
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McTominay, who is 6ft 4in tall, made two competitive appearances for Manchester United at the end of last season.
National manager Gordon Strachan has frequently bemoaned that the players the country has access to from the English Premier League invariably are with relegation strugglers.
Darren Fletcher bucked the trend during his time at Old Trafford. Now Andrew Robertson should follow suit after winning a £10-million move from Hull City to Liverpool.
Strachan will hope he can soon add McTominay to that number.
Mourinho has identified him as one of a clutch of Manchester United Academy prospects who could become first-team regulars.
That message is given weight by McTominay’s two competitive games – a cameo against Arsenal and a full debut against Crystal Palace – at the end of last season.
McTominay used to play up front, but now describes himself as a typical midfielder, in that he likes to tackle, pass and run.
Midfield is one area in which Scotland’s senior side is hardly lacking – but they aren’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
The player would have been taken by Scotland to the Toulon Tournament earlier in the summer, where a young Scotland side beat Brazil. But he was too old.
That is not an issue for the European Championships, and McTominay will be given a call to tie him up for the future, as much as the present.
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