Scott McTominay sheds Scotland sulk look as Man United smiling assassin turns back clock after Steve Clarke chat

Scott McTominay is Scotland’s smiling superstar after the key talks with Steve Clarke that brought back his boyish joy.

The Manchester United midfielder casts aside hero status to claim he’s just a normal boy living the dream. But McTominay is a national treasure having enjoyed a spectacular year for his country. His two goals against Cyprus 12 months ago kickstarted a run that saw him bettered only by the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo in the scoring charts for Euro 2024 qualifying.

The 27-year-old admits the surge coincided with Clarke sitting him down and having an honest discussion. At the time McTominay was struggling to get into his club side, feeling some unhappiness, perhaps even sulking a bit. Clarke sensed it. The manager’s chat struck a chord as the player said: “Yes, I’d say it did. That was the camp where the manager and I sat down and he said that I didn’t look happy, that I didn’t look like I was smiling about the place.

“He just said he wanted to see the kid who was happy whenever he first came on the scene and was playing every week. He saw a boy who was smiling all the time.

“I thought, ‘Maybe he’s right’. I spoke to my mum, my dad, my girlfriend at the time and they all pretty much said the same thing.

“I feel like in my family it’s all about happiness and enjoyment. If my dad knows I’ve got a smile on my face when I’m playing, along with my grandparents, my mum, my sister and my girlfriend, then that’s all they want.

“If maybe I’m looking like I’m sulking a little bit like maybe I was a couple of years ago or a year ago, then they want to know why and want to help you. They’ll say, ‘We’re here to help you, speak to the manager’.

“That’s why it’s so important