Why Scott McTominay would have a bigger role to play for Man United

Manchester United kicked off their Premier League campaign with a 4-0 win over rivals Chelsea.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer couldn’t have asked for a better start to his first full season in charge of the Red Devils at the weekend. Two strikes by Marcus Rashford and goals from Anthony Martial and debutant Daniel James gave Manchester United the perfect start to the new season.

Solskjaer won 14 of his first 19 games in charge after taking the reins from Jose Mourinho last term, but a dramatic loss of form had fans and pundits scratching their heads at the end of the campaign.

However, United recaptured some of the lost momentum experienced during the Norwegian’s arrival in December, and the team gave a solid performance, especially in the second half against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea.

The resounding 4-0 win over Chelsea gave so many reasons for Solskjaer and supporters to feel optimistic about the rest of the season.

Yes, it was far from the perfect display and yes, 4-0 flattered Solskjaer’s side. And indeed, some players can really improve and grow more into this club based on the first game of the 2019/20 campaign.

In the case of Scott McTominay, Solskjaer and the fans can expect a lot from him this season.

When United had suffered a massive dip in form after Solskjaer was appointed as the permanent manager, Scott McTominay was one of the rare bright sparks in the side.

He made 22 appearances for the Red Devils last season and was trusted in important Champions League clashes against Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

With Ander Herrera leaving the club at the end of last season, and United signing no replacement during the transfer window, the Scotsman could find more opportunities to establish himself as a first-team regular. And McTominay particularly impressed against Chelsea at Old Trafford, putting in a solid performance in the middle of the park for the home side.

The 22-year-old looked sloppy in possession at times, just like his teammates in the first half. However, he was assured and confident on the ball after the interval, effective at breaking down Chelsea’s attacks by sitting in front of the back four.

McTominay’s attitude and work ethic again caught the eye, while providing a platform for the likes of Pogba and Pereira to unlock the opposition’s defence.

Verdict

The Scotland international isn’t a defensive midfielder but he has the qualities and skill-set to grow more into that role. With Herrera having left, Nemanja Matic ageing and Fred needing time to adapt to the Premier League, McTominay has a chance to nail down his place in Solskjaer’s XI.

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Undoubtedly, he has a massive role to play this season as United aim to build on the rollicking opening day victory over Chelsea.