Manchester United star Scott McTominay is the big man for the big occasion and now their top scorer.
A huge clash with Chelsea, manager Erik ten Hag feeling the pressure – no sweat. Two goals and a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford.
Often considered a jack of all trades, McTominay is now the master of vital goals – six in all competitions.
His plundering with Scotland earned him plaudits and a ticket to Euro 2024 where he will no doubt star in the opening game against Germany.
For Manchester United, he’s stepping up too – six times in all competitions now – and boy did they need him against the Blues.
‘McTominay, he looked like Maradona in midfield today,” former Premier League star Jamie O’Hara joked on talkSPORT.
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With the Red Devils’ forwards faltering in front of goal again, despite 28 shots fired, and Marcus Rashford dropped to the bench, up stepped the flying Scotsman.
On two occasions the 26-year-old steamed in and put the ball in the back of the net.
The first, a left-foot shot, was larruped home after Harry Maguire saw his own blocked.
Not even a Cole Palmer equaliser could derail McTominay and his teammates, clearly better than their opponents in blue.
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With 69 minutes on the clock, he positioned himself with a superb run, shook off Levi Colwill with ease, and nodded home at the back post.
“He’s done it again! When he’s in the penalty box, he’s colder than Jack Frost’s a*** in an ice bath,” yelled talkSPORT host Mark Goldbridge.
“He had a very important role. I admire the player,” Ten Hag said about his player to Amazon.
“He had an important role to pick them up, defend them, and press them but also, in possession, take benefit.
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“He did several times and he came several times into good scoring positions.”
Asked by another reporter about his more advanced role, he added: “He has the skills to arrive in the right moment. He has the smell and he has a very good finish.
“Our gameplan is often that we want him to be high, so the team has to make it happen so that he can come into positions where he is around a striker and can make his runs.”
And yet he could have had more.
Scott McTominay against Chelsea
Pass accuracy 95 per cent
Touches – 41
Passes completed – 21/22
Shots on target – 5
Ground duels won – 2
Goals – 2
An outrageous double save from Robert Sanchez denied him from dispatching the Blues in the first-half.
Asked where his goalscoring form has come from, he replied: “I don’t know! [where the goals have come from].”
“I’ve always enjoyed getting in the box. I could’ve had more if I had calmed down for my hat trick.”
His teammates are struggling in front of goal, none of them looked able to put the ball home, even a Bruno Fernandes penalty – once a sure-fire goal – didn’t result in ink on the scoresheet.
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They forged on and, despite misses from Alejandro Garnacho (8), Antony (4), Bruno Fernandes (5) and Rasmus Hojlund (1), McTominay’s brace got the Red Devils a vital three points.
Wins over Brentford, Sheffield United, and now the Blues have been delivered with his clutch goals.
And even at the final whistle with Old Trafford roaring with delight, when Antony dropped to the turf with relief.
Two hands were held out to pick him – Scott McTominay‘s, of course – the helping hands Manchester United need right now.