A ‘brilliant’ Manchester United man has labeled his country’s Euro 2024 talisman

This is not a Scotland team blessed with prolific strikers. Che Adams is expected to lead Steve Clarke’s front line in the absence of Lyndon Dykes and has just six goals in 30 caps.

So Scott McTominay’s box-and-lung-crashing runs could be Scotland’s best hope of escaping a tight but competitive group that includes Switzerland, Hungary and native Germany.

Manchester United’s Scott McTominay is heading to Germany

“We’re in a good place,” starts Charlie Adam, who has won 26 caps for Scotland but has never featured in a major international tournament (talkSPORT, June 11, 9.40am).

“I think (Clarke) will play 4-5-1 and get runners from midfield, try to use McTominay’s legs. His recent goalscoring record for Scotland has been brilliant and has started to rise. He came into the Manchester United team and did very well.”

McTominay has scored 18 goals for club and country since hitting a pair of braces against Cyprus and, famously, Spain in March 2023. The Man United graduate has always been a good striker of the ball but, under Erik ten Hag, his developed. a knack for appearing in the right place at exactly the right time.

What the Carrington baby lacks in aesthetics, it more than makes up for in time.

“Obviously he goes into (the European Championships) with good form and confidence. Obviously he’s never let Scotland down, which is important,” adds Adam, once of Stoke City, Rangers and Liverpool.

“When you have players in your team who can cause problems, it gives you a chance.”

McTominay is one of the Man United players set to play a pivotal role in Germany. Kobbie Mainoo looks a real contender to start for Gareth Southgate’s England – perhaps as the hand of Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham – while Portuguese duo Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot are the starters for Roberto Martinez’s latest golden generation.

Meanwhile, England will face Danish pair Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen in the group stage.

Scotland’s best hope for Euro 2024 success

“(McTominay) is a Rolls-Royce,” Clarke tells the Scottish Sun of McTominay preparing to return to the XI after taking the hit in that FA Cup final win over Manchester City two weeks earlier .

“It’s great he plays all the time (for Man United),” Clarke’s assistant John Carver said in March, per the Daily Record . “Before the European (qualifying) campaign started, he didn’t get much playing time.”

“I think it can be done better. It got better for Man Utd. And it’s not easy to break into a Man Utd team with the history, tradition and what goes on behind the scenes.

“He can get better and I like to think he wants to get better. For the national team, it was outstanding. He has the personality to play for Man United, that’s why you’re there.

“He has a presence. He has that trick. At the top clubs you need that because he has to play under pressure every week.”

• Sunday June 16: Serbia v England – Arena AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen kick-off 20:00 UK time, BBC
• Thursday June 20: Denmark v England – Waldstadion, Frankfurt, kick-off 17:00 UK time, BBC
• Tuesday June 25: England v Slovenia – RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne – kick-off 20:00 UK time, ITV

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