MANCHESTER UNITED midfielder Scott McTominay has promised the Scotland players will “have a right go” in the crucial Euro 2020 qualifying Hampden double-header against Russia tomorrow night and Belgium on Monday.
The 22-year-old Old Trafford ace admitted it’s time for the Scots to get their sleeves rolled up and battle all the way for precious victories with the country sitting in fourth place on six points in Group I.
Under previous boss Alex McLeish, they toppled to a sensational 3-0 defeat in Kazakhstan in March and his successor Steve Clarke couldn’t prevent an identical loss against the world’s No.1 nation in Brussels in June.
The defiant United youngster, though, is quick to say this team should not be written off.
McTominay, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “You just have to take each game as a Cup Final. It’s vitally important for us to keep building on the progress we’ve shown under the new gaffer and I feel like it’s two big games where you can look at it in two different ways.
“It’s a must-win and it’s definitely a must-not-lose, as well, so I feel like you have to take responsibility on the pitch first and foremost.
“We’re not going to settle for anything less than us going and having a right go, but obviously that’s up to the manager and the coaching staff with how they set us up and the different ways that they want to approach the game.
“All the players have fully bought in to everything that the boss is saying and all of his ways on and off the pitch are different and it’s obviously really positive to have somebody of that magnitude managing the national team and it’s exciting.”
IN CONTROL…Scott McTominay looks assured on Scotland duty.
The 22-year-old, who has started all four of United’s Premier League games this season, continued: “For myself, I’ve just been concentrating on playing as much football as I possibly can and learning as much as I can from the coaching staff, both at my parent club and at Scotland, as well.
“It’s exciting times for me personally, but it’s just about keeping a level head and wanting to keep progressing in the way that you’re going.”
Looking at Scotland, he added: “I feel like we’ve been unfortunate with some of the results that we’ve had, and obviously I’m now aware I’m an international and they’re the games that I’m solely focused on at this moment in time.
“But at club level, we’ve been unlucky with a few decisions and a few ways that the results of the matches have gone, but, as I say, it’s important for us to get off to a flying start with Scotland, as well.”
The Scots have picked up six points following their 2-0 win over San Marino away from home and 2-1 against Cyprus in Glasgow where Oli Burke got the late points-clincher.
In their last outing in Brussels, Romelu Lukaku scored in first-half stoppage time and the Inter Milan frontman added another after the interval with Kevin Du Bruyne claiming a third right at the death.
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