SCOTT McTOMINAY has been named the William Hill SFWA Men’s International Player of the Year for the second year running.
The Napoli star’s consistent form for Scotland saw him voted top man by the country’s football writers.
Scott McTominay was the match winner again for Scotland against Greece[/caption]
McTominay with his William Hill SFWA Men’s International Player of the Year going[/caption]
McTominay said: “It’s a team game but trophies like this make you feel very proud and privileged.
“My grandparents will be so proud of me winning this and to see them so grateful and happy is a great feeling.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all the guys, they have done such an amazing job with Steve Clarke. I’m very grateful.
“Change is sometimes a good thing but it can be uncomfortable when you change clubs. If you go into it with a clear mind and give it everything you’ve got, you’ll have no regrets.
“We will see you at the World Cup next year!”
McTominay, 28, has been nothing short of a revelation since joining Napoli in a £25.5million transfer last summer.
He had been with Manchester United since 2002 but became part of a growing legion of Scots to swap the British Isles for Italy.
Since his move he has established himself as a fan favourite in Naples, became one of the best midfielders in Serie A and even forced a few tactical tweaks from the notoriously stubborn Antonio Conte.
He has scored seven goals in 28 appearances for Napoli, plus four assists.
McTominay now has 11 goals in 58 caps for Scotland – adding one to each tally on Thursday night in the 1-0 win over Greece in the first leg of the Nations League play-off tie.
Four of those strikes for the national team came over the last year, including one at what was a disappointing Euros for the Scots.
McTominay never doubted Steve Clarke would prove last summer’s critics wrong.
The Scotland gaffer came in for flak after the limp exit from the 2024 Euros in the group stages – with plenty Tartan Army punters asking if he’d taken the team as far as he could.
But Clarke, who is signed on with the SFA until the end of the World Cup campaign, is ninety minutes away from keeping the Scots in the Nations League top tier after last week’s stunning 1-0 win in Greece.
Athens penalty hero McTominay insists the Hampden stars were always fully behind the boss.
He said: “I don’t really read or pay much attention to the criticism.
“But from the general feeling from friends, family members, other players then sometimes it is a bit unjustified given how well and what Steve Clarke has done for this whole group of players.
“In the summer it was very fine margins.
“The media will always say it is doom and gloom, stuff like that.
“If you don’t take your moments in both boxes against top teams you are going to get punished.
“That has probably been a big improvement; in the last game, we defended our box so well.
“The way Grant Hanley and John Souttar attacked the ball and made sure we all pushed up together was so important for the team.
“Taking moments in both boxes is crucial.
“The manager has basically transformed us into believing we can go and play against Spain, Germany and teams like that.
“If there is one game where it doesn’t come off then he still has belief in us the next time. For a player, that is crucial.
“He is such a great manager and as a person as well, he helps you progress.
“The development has been massive, we’ve had a lot of different players over the years but there has been that core of more senior players as well.”
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