The Netherlands face Scotland in an intriguing international friendly clash on Friday night and the battle between a Manchester City defender and one of Manchester United’s main goal threats could go some way to deciding the victor in Amsterdam.
You can often judge a man by the company he keeps.
So when you consider that only Romelu Lukaku, Harry Kane, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe scored more goals than Scott McTominay during Euro 2024 qualifying – level with Manchester United team-mate Rasmus Hojlund on seven – you can see why the Netherlands have singled out the box-crashing midfielder as a major threat ahead of Friday night’s 7.45 kick off in the Dutch capital.
Manchester United man in the form of his life
Nathan Ake, the Man City defender likely to start at the heart of Ronald Koeman’s backline tonight, will be hoping to avoid the same fate that befell his Etihad team-mate Rodri 12 months ago.
McTominay scored twice as Rodri’s Spain were stunned 2-0 at Hampden Park in March 2023, the former Atletico Madrid star reduced to whimpering in the media as La Roja were trampled underfoot by a ferocious Scotland side.
But if there is a feeling that an arrogant Spanish outfit underestimated the quality and the desire at Steve Clarke’s disposal, Ake, at least, is unlikely to make a similar mistake.
“We’ll be up against a very strong team,” the £40 million Man City defender says, via the Scottish Sun. “With good Premier League players at its heart.
“John McGinn (of Aston Villa) and Scott McTominay, in particular, are on top form. They have really impressed me. And I watch Andy Robertson closely because he plays left-back (for Liverpool) and I often do, too, although we are different players.
“You can see that as a team Scotland are improving every year. It’s good to watch. And they’re going to give us a really tough game.”
15 goals over the last 12 months
McTominay was crowned Scotland’s Player of the Year last week. Silencing his critics with every game and every decisive goal, the Carrington graduate is likely to be a candidate to claim that award at club level too, McTominay adding to his last-gasp Brentford brace, his Chelsea double and that Aston Villa winner with a goal and an assist in last week’s thrilling FA Cup knockout of Liverpool.
Over the last 12 months, McTominay now has 15 goals for club and country.