‘Scott McTominay’s turned into Paul Scholes and Roy Keane’: Gary Neville hails Manchester United man after his two early strikes set the Red Devils on their way to a thumping 6-2 win over Leeds… and pundit says the Scot can now be relied on in big games
- Scott McTominay hadn’t scored in 10 league games this season before Sunday
- However, the 24-year-old midfielder scored twice inside the first three minutes
- Gary Neville compared him to Paul Scholes and Roy Keane after the fast start
- Keane however felt that McTominay was more reminiscent of his ex-teammate
- Neville says McTominay, Fred and Bruno Fernandes are dependable in big games
Gary Neville hailed Scott McTominay’s two-goal contribution as Manchester United hammered Leeds 6-2 at Old Trafford to move third in the Premier League.
The Scotland midfielder hadn’t scored in 10 league appearances this season prior to today, but netted twice in the opening three minutes as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made a lightning-fast start.
In doing so, McTominay became the first player ever to score twice in the first three minutes of a Premier League match.
Scott McTominay after bagging his second goal to become a Premier League record-breaker
Gary Neville claimed that McTominay played like a cross between Roy Keane and Paul Scholes
Keane replied by saying that McTominay’s style of play was far more reminiscent of Scholes
After the Scottish midfielder scored his second of the game, Neville said on commentary: ‘McTominay’s turned into Paul Scholes and Roy Keane inside three minutes.
‘He’s driving forward, I’m not sure whether that’s in the tactics or if he just fancied it, but he’s gone and Martial comes inside, sees him running and he’s off. His first touch is brilliant, his second is sublime.
‘We thought United would counter-attack and attack quickly, but we didn’t think that the holding midfielder would be on the end of it. What a start.’
Keane was in the studio as a pundit for Sky and, when asked about Neville’s comments at half-time, replied: ‘Probably more Scholesy to be fair.’
Later in the game, Neville added: ‘He (McTominay) is emerging and growing. He’s someone Ole can rely upon in the big games with Fred and Fernandes in front of them. Then Pogba, Matic and Van de Beek fit in around that.’
Bruno Fernandes added a third goal for the hosts after 20 minutes before Victor Lindelof made it four 17 minutes later.
Bruno Fernandes was characteristically calm from the spot as he also scored twice in the game
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are now third in the Premier League and travel to Leicester next
Liam Cooper reduced the deficit just before half-time, but Daniel James re-established the Red Devils’ four-goal lead with his first Premier League strike since August 2019.
Fernandes then bagged his second from the spot after Anthony Martial had been tripped by Pascal Struijk before Stuart Dallas rounded off the scoring after 73 minutes.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men next play on Boxing Day against Leicester, who go into the fixture off the back of a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Tottenham which has put them second in the table, one point ahead of United.
