“You should have stayed at a big club” taunted Brentford fans at Christian Eriksen when their side were 1-0 up at Old Trafford, heading towards three points.
It was not the Dane who directed Manchester United away from the whirlpool of a third successive defeat but fellow substitute Scott McTominay. The academy graduate’s stoppage-time double silenced the away end while sending the rest of the ground barmy.
McTominay’s role at a big club has been questioned in recent years. Constant links with Newcastle - a top-seven side - and West Ham have filled the gossip columns each transfer window in recent memory, it seems.
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His ‘McFred’ partnership during the disastrous 2021/22 season drew fierce criticism and left fans wondering where he fitted in at United. After his double against Brentford, many are waxing lyrical about ‘McSauce’ and perhaps his best role at the club has been identified.
McTominay has been in super scoring form for his country in 2023. He was briefly joint top of the Euro 2024 qualifying goals charts alongside Rasmus Hojlund after finding the net for Scotland against Cyprus last month.
His six goals so far have brought his former life as a striker to the fore. However, he has not been able to transfer this knack from the international stage into his club form. That in part is due to game time.
Last season, he was not getting ahead of Casemiro, Eriksen and then Marcel Sabitzer and perhaps Fred in the midfield pecking order. His former Brazilian midfield partner may have left for Fenerbahce but McTominay finds himself with yet more competition ahead of him.
Summer recruits Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat will always be favoured over the 26-year-old while academy product Kobbie Mainoo seems to be a favourite of Erik ten Hag. McTominay's introduction against Brentford on 87 minutes was the last roll of the dice, make no mistake.
He spared Ten Hag’s blushes in his fifth Premier League appearance of the season. But despite all the midfield injuries this campaign, the United boss has started McTominay in just two league games.
His three substitute appearances have come with just minutes left to play. Perhaps that is where he fits in best at United going forward.
McTominay has cause to argue that he should start United’s trip to Sheffield United after the international break given his late weekend heroics and he may well do. But perhaps against any team higher in the league, it might be a different issue.
The Scot does not get into the first, second or third preferred midfield starting XI combination. Every league game he has been brought on in, United have won. In his two cameos against Wolves and Nottingham Forest, he helped United cling on to a 1-0 lead.
And of course, against Brentford he did a lot more. This may be his optimal role at United in the main.
McTominay will get the odd start but his status at United might well be an impact player. The bustling central player is clearly a handful for defenders late on in a game and he can be of use to United in that regard.
McTominay won’t be satisfied with that given his hunger for success, and a future move away may beckon. However, his love for the club is evident and he will, for now, want to help the team in the best way he can in whatever capacity this is.
