McTominay equals Cristiano Ronaldo mark to send Ten Hag a message over Man Utd future

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 29 Mar 2023 08:27 BST
• 3 min read

Scott McTominay has used the international break to send a firm message to Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag that he might still have a part to play at Old Trafford.

The midfielder sits second in the European Championship scoring charts behind Denmark's Rasmus Hojlund but level with former Old Trafford club-mate Cristiano Ronaldo after a remarkable start to the campaign.

McTominay was on target twice for Steve Clarke's Scotland on Tuesday as they shocked Spain 2-0 at Hampden, with the Man Utd man scoring in either half.

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The 26-year-old also came off the bench to net two goals in six minutes on Saturday as Scotland beat Cyprus 3-0 in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier.

It was a terrific response from McTominay, whose future at Old Trafford is very much up in the air before the summer.

He showed, however, that he offers more than just defensive solidarity, having been given more of a box-to-box role by Scotland, which he undoubtedly made the most of.

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Indeed, Ten Hag could not fail to have been impressed with the timing of McTominay's surges into the box that twice allowed him to net against Spain.

It is food for thought for the Dutchman, with the Scotland international showing that there is more to his game than that of just a simple sitting midfielder.

Newcastle are reportedly keen on signing McTominay, much to the dismay of some of their supporters who feel he is not up to scratch.

Eddie Howe wants to bring him to St James’ Park after a move for him after they failed to materialise a deal in the winter window.

The midfielder has made 32 appearances for Man Utd so far this season, but a majority of those outings have been via coming off the bench as a substitute.

Casemiro edging out McTominay

The summer arrival of Casemiro has seen McTominay fall down the pecking order, but Man Utd may be reluctant to sell to a rival in the Premier League, especially one as near to them as Newcastle.

The player joined the club's academy in 2002 and signed his first professional contract eleven years later - before making his Premier League debut came in 2017.

McTomiany has made 202 first-team appearances for the Red Devils so far.

But he is considered surplus to requirements, along with Anthony Martial, Harry Maguire, David De Gea and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who are among other players at Old Trafford earmarked to leave.