Manchester United legend Bryan Robson on why Scott McTominay is more than a ‘sitting midfielder’

Scott McTominay has received mixed plaudits this season, with the Scottish international’s performances being hit-and-miss.

The 25-year-old is one of several Red Devils’ academy graduates to cement his place in their matchday squads over the last few years.

However, his role in midfield is still somewhat undefined, with him alternating between very defensive-minded game, sitting deep and protecting the backline, then balancing both attacking duties, traits that often found in a box-to-box midfielder.

United legend Bryan Robson thinks coaches shouldn’t focus on just playing individuals as a defensive-minded or attack-minded midfielder.

Speaking to SPORTbible, he opined McTominay is suited to the box-to-box role and the club’s coaches should continue to develop him as such.

"I just think in football, we try to clone people in today’s game and even the coaches, they want either an attacking midfield player or a sitting midfield player who protects the defenders,” Robson explained.

"But if you’re full of energy, and you’ve got great stamina, I still think there’s room in the game for box-to-box players, which I was classed as. Players who can score goals and can defend. I just look at one of the young lads at United at the moment, Scott McTominay, I feel he’s got that in his locker.”

Robson went on to mention how in the last few games for the Red Devils, McTominay has been allowed to base his game on more attack-minded phases, instead of just being a ‘defensive player’.

"I’m thankful now that when I’m watching Scott, the last sort of six or seven games, he’s got back to being more attack-minded, whereas at the start of the season he was back into that sort of mood of where he just felt he was a defensive player. I think it’s up to coaches to help develop players and make them all-round players, rather than clone them into one thing they can do well."

McTominay has been one of United’s key players over the last few seasons and has made a total of 157 appearances for the club since his debut in 2017.

His performances for the Red Devils since then has earned him 28 caps for the Scottish national team.