Man United news: Erik ten Hag taught a lesson after what pundit has spotted – ‘Never seen this before’
Frank McAvennie insists that Man United boss Erik ten Hag could learn a lesson from seeing how Scott McTominay is deployed for Scotland.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former West Ham and Scotland striker rescinded previous criticism of McTominay after his impressive displays for Scotland during the international break.
The 26-year-old scored four goals in two games last week and helped his national team secure back-to-back victories against Cyprus and Spain in their opening Euro qualifiers.
The midfielder has struggled for game time at Old Trafford this season.
Of his 19 Premier League appearances so far, McTominay has only been in the starting XI for eight of those games.
The Scotsman returned to the starting lineup for the first time since January in their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Sunday (2 April).
McAvennie insisted Ten Hag should take a leaf out of Steve Clarke’s book to get the best out of McTominay.
“I have been critical of McTominay in the past,” he told Football Insider.
“He is getting in the box for Scotland but he has not been doing that for Man United.
“I do not think he is a holding midfield player, I want him to do what he does for Scotland.
“At the moment Scotland are letting him free and it is working. I have not seen him play that far forward so for me that is where he has got to play now. Four goals in two games says everything about him in that position.
“Why is he not doing it at Man United? Because he has not been told to do that, he has not been told to get forward, he has been told to sit.
“Steve has given him that freedom and it just shows it works wonders.“
In other news, Brutal Man United eight-player clearout begins.