Two Manchester United players are battling for one unique midfield role

It has been a pretty good international break for Manchester United.

Many of their star players were afforded a much-needed two-week rest ahead of the business end of the season, while most of those who were involved with their national teams made the back pages with their impressive displays.

No player shone quite as brightly as Scott McTominay, though, with the Scotland international grabbing headlines across the continent for his scoring antics.

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His late double against Cyprus at the weekend was underplayed given the goals both came in the dying moments against weak opponents, but you can't understate the magnitude of his brace against Spain earlier this week.

It was an incredible display in which the 26-year-old showcased his raw athleticism and his lethal eye for goal, with two surges into the box that were met with sweetly struck shots.

"We knew they'd have lots of the ball, and the manager said be clinical when we had the opportunities, and I thought we had enough opportunities to really hurt them and score some goals," he told Viaplay after the win.

"As a kid, I was an attacking midfielder - I like to get in the box. I've got to keep doing that, I know I can add more goals and assists to my game."

This was McTominay at his very best, but it also presented a problem. Just where does he fit into the United side this season and next?

He is at his best when he has the freedom to attack, though given that Bruno Fernandes has a monopoly on the attacking midfield role, that means playing him more as a No.6.

There is an argument that he should be tried in midfield alongside Fernandes and Casemiro, but the position he is looking to occupy is already hotly contested.