Scott McTominay holds Manchester United future talks with Steve Clarke as Scotland TLC holds healing power

This has become their happy place.

A sanctuary to where they know they can retreat when the real world is all getting a bit too much like hard work. Twelve months ago it was Billy Gilmour who was in need of some Scotland squad pampering, at a time when he could hardly get a kick at Brighton. And now Gilmour is back up and fully firing again, running the show on the south coast, it’s Scott McTominay’s turn to have his ego massaged by Steve Clarke and his group.

The Manchester United man has endured a rough summer, unsure if he still had a place at Old Trafford or if he was about to become a cast-off from Erik Ten Hag’s latest reshuffle. And even though he survived the Dutchman’s cull, he’s now on the fringes of the first team feeling somewhat surplus to requirements. Just as Kieran Tierney did when Mikel Arteta began tinkering with Arsenal’s defence.

Yet, here they all are, back together like some band of brothers in dark blue shirts, on the latest leg of an adventure that seems set to carry them all the way to Euro 2024 in Germany next summer. It hasn’t happened by accident.

After leading the team to the AEK stadium here in Larnaca ahead of one final training session before the Group A showdown with Cyprus, Clark lifted the lid on the feel-good factor that’s underpinned this entire campaign.

And Gilmour’s recent resurgence at the Amex is the proof it works. Clarke said: “In a little way it vindicates my decision to keep Billy involved all the time.

“I just wanted to keep him in the squad, keep him involved, let him know, ‘We trust you and know you’ll come good again’. That’s what he has done and I’m delighted for Billy and for ourselves as well.”

Asked if McTominay is the latest player in need of some of Clarke’s TLC, he