Scott McTominay was often left speechless when he encountered Sir Alex Ferguson in the Manchester United canteen.
McTominay joined United as a five-year-old and fought his way through the youth ranks to now become one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s most trusted players.
United’s academy prides itself on instilling hard-working morals into its products and McTominay epitomises that grounded, respectful attitude.
McTominay showed a glimpse of those principles when recalling his first encounters with Ferguson as a youngster.
Asked on MOTDx who used to make him and other academy players feel starstruck as a kid, McTominay replied: “The boss. Sir Alex.
“Whenever we saw him in the canteen he’d always say: ‘Are you behaving yourself?’ And you’d just be quiet.
“You never know what to say, especially with him being from Scotland.
“It was special, he invited me up when I signed my scholarship with all the players in the dressing room.”
McTominay also disclosed during the interviewing his unflattering nickname which became attached to him as a teenager.
“I used to get called the Tinman by my old reserve team coach,” the Scotland international said.
“You know when you get a bit taller? You can’t really move your legs that well and things like that.
“Warren Joyce called me it, forever remembered.”