A large selection of Manchester United supporters may be about to agree with Micah Richards for perhaps the first time in their lives.
That’s because the ex-Manchester City man took the time on the latest The Rest Is Football podcast to pour praise on former Red Scott McTominay, who recently ended his 22-year association with United.
Indeed, his exit was a sore one to take for the Old Trafford faithful. Not only had he become such a reliable figure in recent years, with 2023/2024 marking a career-best goalscoring campaign, but he had been a Red since the age of five.
The Lancaster-born midfielder came from a family of matchgoing fans and had previously spoken of his desire to attend an away match with the club’s ever-faithful travelling support. Now, he can perhaps do so.
Nonetheless, McTominay has picked up where he left off on international duty. He netted Scotland’s sixth-ever Euros goal and their first of the tournament with his contribution against Switzerland in June and added to his tally with the opener in last night’s clash with Portugal.
He steered home a bullet header to take the lead in Lisbon before his ex-teammates Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo inspired their nation’s late comeback to claim all three points on home soil. The 27-year-old had also etched his name onto the scoresheet in the Scots’ 3-2 loss to Poland last Thursday, along with club teammate Billy Gilmour.
Richards lauds ‘brilliant’ McTominay
Reacting to recent international results on Monday’s podcast, Richards told the panel: “I think we need to give McTominay his flowers.
“There have been so many times he has been lambasted at Man United for being just a workhorse or ‘he’s only in the team because they’ve got nobody else’. But what he’s done in terms of attitude, application, his runs into the box, really fit [and] good enough on the ball.
“What he does for Scotland is brilliant. We actually need to put some respect onto his name because every time I see him play, he makes a difference.”