New Italian job has Scots banking on Scott McTominay

Scotland are preparing to host Greece at Hampden Park on Oct 9 for a World Cup qualifier, and one player’s meteoric rise has electrified the Tartan Army – Scott McTominay.

The 28-year-old midfielder, now thriving at Napoli after a summer 2024 move from Manchester United, embodies the revival story that could define Steve Clarke and his side’s quest for a first World Cup Finals appearance since 1998.

In Group C alongside Denmark, Greece and Belarus, the Scots have four points from two away games, making this home double-header crucial – they also welcome Belarus on Oct 12 – for maintaining momentum as they sit behind table-toppers Denmark on goal difference.

McTominay, with his blend of physicality, goalscoring instinct and renewed confidence, stands out as the player to watch, bringing his Serie A-honed edge to his national team.

His journey to this point began with a bold transfer in August 2024, when Napoli signed him from United for £25.7 million (S$44.7 million) – ending a 22-year association with the Red Devils, where he made his debut in 2017 and made over 250 appearances, winning the FA Cup and League Cup. 

At United, McTominay was often a squad player, valued for his energy and late runs into the box but criticised for lacking consistency in possession and creativity in the middle of the park.

His best Premier League season yielded seven goals in 2023-24, and he scored only 29 times in 255 games overall for the Old Trafford club, according to transfermarkt.com.

The move to Italy, driven by McTominay’s desire for regular football and United’s need to comply with Profitability and Sustainability Rules, proved transformative.

“It was a big decision, but in some ways it was quite straightforward. I saw an opportunity... I took it. I didn’t look back,” McTominay reflected in a BBC interview afterwards.

“It didn’t take me long to make the decision because I knew that was what I wanted... In this situation, I have to look out for No. 1 and go with my gut feeling of what I want to do in my career.”

Under new boss Antonio Conte, McTominay found a system tailored to his strengths.

Deployed as an advanced midfielder – where he regularly embarked on late runs to attack crosses – his role emphasised penalty-box threat over the build-up play he was used to at United.

The results were staggering.

In his debut Serie A season (2024-25), he netted 12 league goals and had six assists in 34 appearances, winning the league Most Valuable Player award as Napoli secured their fourth title.

His 18 goal contributions are the most from a midfielder in a Serie A debut season and three more than Kaka during the Brazilian maestro’s first term at AC Milan, according to Sky Sports.

This haul was a stark improvement on his output at United, where he managed 19 Premier League goals in 178 games. 

Key moments defined his impact – scoring in just 25 seconds on his league debut against Como, a brace in a 2-0 win over Torino on April 27 that helped Napoli reclaim the sole lead at the top of the table with four games left, and five goals in April which made him the first Scot to be named Serie A Player of the Month. 

His opener in the title-clinching 2-0 victory over Cagliari on May 23 – a stunning scissor kick – sealed Napoli’s fourth Scudetto and cemented his legacy.

Napoli fans, known for their passion which sometimes blends into player worship for icons like Diego Maradona, embraced McTominay instantly and nicknamed him “McFratm” (Neapolitan for “McBrother”).

For his efforts, the Scot was not only recognised as Serie A’s best player, he also finished 18th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings, ahead of the likes of Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland. 

“McTominay is clearly much stronger now than when he arrived,” Conte said in May.

“He also feels more complete and knowledgeable. He never had a primary role at Man United, while here we gave him one. He’s worked hard and now he’s a complete player.”

Former United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer summed it up when he told the BBC: “How you can sell Scott is beyond me.”

McTominay’s impressive club form has directly elevated his international game. With 63 caps and 12 goals for Scotland, he has been prolific lately, scoring 11 in his last 21 competitive outings. 

The Napoli experience, he says, has “opened my eyes to a different style of football” and contributed to his off-pitch growth. Playing alongside compatriot Billy Gilmour at the club also helps with national-team cohesion.

Against Greece, McTominay’s attributes could prove decisive. 

Scotland’s Nations League play-off loss to Greece in March adds motivation, while his physical presence – standing at 1.91m with relentless pressing – will test a Greek side likely to rely on counter-attacks. 

McTominay’s ability to arrive late in the box, honed under Conte, addresses Scotland’s need for midfield goals, especially with recent qualifiers showing defensive solidity but a lack of scoring prowess.

In their last two matches, they drew 0-0 with Denmark, while they were helped by an own goal in their 2-0 victory over Belarus.

In the current Serie A season, Conte has been experimenting with a left-wing role for McTominay and while he noted that the Scot has been “struggling a bit”, this versatility whether in midfield or on the flanks will give his Scotland counterpart Clarke tactical flexibility against Greece’s organised defence.

McTominay’s revival is not just statistical, it is also cultural.

In Naples, he has become an icon who kissed the club badge and earned chants of “Thank you, Scotland!” from Napoli fans during title celebrations, as reported by the BBC.

For Scotland, facing the Greeks in a group in which every point counts towards direct qualification or the play-offs, their revitalised star man could spark the Hampden roar.

If McTominay channels his Napoli form, he could just be the difference-maker in his country’s World Cup quest.