Private Scott McTominay chats revealed amid lack of game time at Manchester United

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has no concerns about playing Scott McTominay despite a lack of game-time for Manchester United under Erik ten Hag this season.

The 26-year-old has only played seven minutes in two fleeting Premier League appearances for United and there was every chance he could have been sold this summer. However, the academy graduate stayed despite interest from Fulham, West Ham and other teams.

United have strengthened their options in the engine room with the arrivals of Mason Mount and Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat. McTominay also finds himself behind Casemiro, Christian Eriksen and Bruno Fernandes in the midfield pecking order.

Clarke, though, has chatted to McTominay about the situation and urged him to take comfort from two Scotland teammates - Billy Gilmour and Kieran Tierney - who have previously found themselves in a similar situation with Brighton and Arsenal while keeping their place in the national team.

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Clarke said: "I've had one or two conversations with Scott already about how the season might pan out. It's similar to Kieran [Tierney] last year. It's important when they're at a club and not playing regularly that they train very hard and work very hard and, when they do get the minutes, do everything they can to be successful.

"Everybody is different. Scott will deal with it differently to Kieran, and to Billy, but as long as they keep on turning up for Scotland doing what they do, we should be happy with that."

Clarke added: "In a little way, it vindicates my