Bryan Robson believes Scott McTominay can blossom for Manchester United into a box-to-box midfielder – and thinks the Scotland international can get ‘between 10 and 15 goals a season’ if he plays in that role
- Bryan Robson scored 99 goals in 461 matches for Manchester United
- He won two Premier Leagues, three FA Cups and a League Cup for the Red Devils
- Robson feels midfielders can too easily be seen as either defensive or attacking
- The Red Devils legend feels Scott McTominay can improve his finishing
- McTominay revealed in 2019 that he also sees himself in a more advanced role
Manchester United legend Bryan Robson believes Scott McTominay can excel as a box-to-box midfielder just as he did – and believes the Scot can reach double figures for goals if played in that role.
Robson scored 99 goals in 461 games for the Red Devils across 13 seasons and won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a League Cup under Ron Atkinson and then Sir Alex Ferguson.
McTominay has predominantly featured as a sitting midfield player during his United career and Robson is keen to see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer give the 24-year-old an opportunity further up the pitch.
Bryan Robson shone as a box-to-box midfielder – and thinks Scott McTominay can do the same
Robson won two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one League Cup with the Red Devils
McTominay has played as a deep-lying midfielder this season and hasn’t got off the mark yet
‘I think coaches either want an attacking midfield player or they want a sitting midfield player, but I still think that there’s people out there that can do box to box and they’ve just got to work a little bit harder on getting the finishing right and I think we’ve got one at this club – Scott McTominay.
‘I don’t think he has to be a sitting midfield player and just be classed as a defending midfield player.
‘He scored seven goals last year and I think where maybe Scott can improve as a player is just to try and get to anywhere between 10 and 15 goals a season and as a central midfield player, if you stay away from injury, then you can achieve that and I think Scott’s got that in his locker.’
McTominay has yet to hit the back of the net so far this season and is part of a back three for Scotland’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Israel on Saturday.
The 24-year-old scored seven times last term – including a double in the 6-2 win over Leeds
McTominay is in a back three on Saturday as Scotland face Israel in a World Cup qualifier
Steve Clarke’s side sit second, seven points adrift of runaway leaders Denmark and one point ahead of their next opponents, with a runners-up spot in the group ensuring progress to the play-offs.
Speaking in 2019, the Carrington graduate did touch on what Robson has mentioned and expressed a desire to play further forward.
‘It’s my ambition to be a regular number six, number eight, a box-to-box player. That’s always been my goal,’ he revealed.
