Scott McTominay was almost sold in the summer but is now Man United’s leading marksman with his crucial goals easing the pressure on Erik ten Hag… and it’s all down to a shift in how he plays

Let's make no bones about it: if West Ham had offered more than £30 million in August, Scott McTominay would probably be playing in claret and blue right now.

Erik ten Hag should have counted his blessings, but they didn't, because right now McTominay is one of the main reasons why he is still manager of Manchester United.

The Scot's injury-time heroics against Brentford, just before the October international break, eased the pressure on Ten Hag. He then scored an important goal at Sheffield United.

On Wednesday, McTominay made the difference again, his double in the 2-1 win over Chelsea providing his manager with some much-needed pre-Christmas messages of comfort and joy.

It came in a week full of stories about Ten Hag losing the confidence of half the United dressing room, to which he responded by banning four news channels from his Tuesday press conference.

Scott McTominay played the double as Manchester United defeated Chelsea on Wednesday evening

The Scottish midfielder has become adept at getting into goal-scoring positions

McTominay's goals have proven to be of great significance for downtrodden boss Erik ten Hag

The United boss is also said to have appreciated McTominay's post-match comments about lighter training; the intense workload was apparently a problem for some underachievers.

Add to that his goal to put United 3-1 ahead against Galatasaray in the Champions League – before their very costly collapse – and McTominay is the club's leading goalscorer this season with six.

That doesn't quite compare with Marcus Rashford or Rasmus Hojlund, but that's no aberration: McTominay also scored seven goals as Scotland qualified for Euro 2024.

The midfielder appears confident of beating his previous best goalscorer for United: seven in the 2020/21 season.

McTominay turned 27 on Friday, has made 225 appearances for United and is considered a solid but unspectacular contributor. But maybe we'll see him in his best role now.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke was only too happy to allow McTominay to plunder forward and get into scoring positions and it appears Ten Hag has also taken the hint.

McTominay has doubled his average shots per game this season to 2.06 and his expected goals have also doubled from 0.16 last season to 0.32.

The year before, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick, all these attacking figures were even lower, indicating that Ten Hag has slowly realized his attacking potential.

McTominay turns up and scores a dramatic injury-time winner against Brentford in October

It led to wild celebrations and lightened the heat at Ten Hag in the run-up to the October internationals

McTominay's statistics show – courtesy of Opta – a greater attacking contribution, but less in terms of creating chances and passing through midfield

The touch cards show a marked increase in McTominay landing himself in the opposite box, which has the desired effect.

But conversely, McTominay's attacking input from midfield has diminished. He is more clinical but less creative, with assists, chances created and passes from deep all far fewer this season.

While he used to position himself just inside the opponent's half and pick out passes, his attacking contribution now mainly consists of shots into the penalty area.

Because this results in a lot of goals, Ten Hag will not worry too much about the other aspects. McTominay covers a lot of ground, runs a shift every time and is reliable.

“People tell me I can do more of it and I can score goals and you just have to believe in yourself,” McTominay said on Wednesday night.

“My mum and dad always said just stand in the penalty area and try to score goals, and my granddad at home, and sometimes it's just believing in yourself.”

Fred's departure to Fenerbahce in the summer marked the end of their never-entirely-convincing 'McFred' partnership and McTominay appears to be taking advantage of it.

Injuries to Casemiro, Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen ensured a steady run of games. McTominay made just 16 of his 39 United appearances last season. This time he started with 12 out of 16.

McTominay's touch map from this season shows how he gets into scoring positions

Last season, just three percent of McTominay's touches came in the opponent's penalty area

Under Ten Hag's predecessors, McTominay positioned himself just inside the opposition half

This ensures that a rhythm can be created. Just ask Harry Maguire, another who could easily have left Old Trafford this summer but is now integral again.

They will remain crucial if United are to build on this important win over Chelsea.

They host Bournemouth on Saturday and – remarkably – have the opportunity to move up on points with Manchester City.

United will then be hoping for a miracle as they welcome Bayern Munich to the Champions League. They have to beat the German champions and hope that Copenhagen vs. Galatasaray draw to reach the last sixteen.

Then it's a visit to Anfield, where Liverpool crushed 7-0 last season and now look even stronger.

Main man McTominay better keep running and scoring.

McTominay worked alongside Fred in United's midfield for a number of seasons

McTominay scored seven goals during Scotland's successful Euro 2024 qualification