Pundit urges Ten Hag to rotate Garnacho for ‘dream’ player with ‘incredible’ numbers and ‘something to prove’

Tim Sherwood wants to see more of Scott McTominay in the starting 11 for Manchester United.

The midfielder was a mainstay on the teamsheet earlier in the campaign and was classed by many as one of Erik ten Hag’s most trusted lieutenants – that was until Kobbie Mainoo’s scintillating emergence to the first-team, along with Casemiro’s long-awaited return from injury.

Mainoo, 18, is now keeping the likes of McTominay, Christian Eriksen and Sofyan Amrabat out of the line-up. He’s just that good. 

However, Sherwood reckons that the Scotland international could be given a new role with more freedom higher up the pitch. He explained on Premier League Productions: “The kid [McTominay] is coming off, not sulking because he hasn’t been selected, he is coming on with something to prove all of the time.

“For me, he should start for Manchester United. I would play him as a ten. No, [I wouldn’t play him for Bruno Fernandes]. Bruno is a top football player. His attitude sometimes lets him down, but I think he is top draw.”

Regarding which player would be withdrawn to suit Sherwood’s aforementioned theory, he added: “Maybe [Alejandro] Garnacho, at times. I think you could play McTominay off [Rasmus] Hojlund. I think he would like a bit of company up there, now and again. McTominay’s numbers are incredible. I have to take my hat off to him, for a manager, he is a dream.”

McTominay continues to rack up the goals

McTominay is United’s highest goalscorer in the Premier League this term with seven to his name. Four of those have come off the bench, and no player in the top division has scored more as a substitute.

The Carrington graduate has proven vital at times when the side have been so desperate for a last-minute winner, more recently doing so in the 86th minute away to Aston Villa.