Scott, like Becks, gets what playing for United means, but do the others?

WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL ACADEMY PLAYERS STILL FORM THE HEART OF THE SQUAD AT OLD TRAFFORD

- TYRONE MARSHALL

DAVID Beckham always loved an assist and at the age of 48 he might just have got another one for United.

When Scott McTominay donned his superhero cloak before entering the action on Saturday, his rise above the mere mortals at Old Trafford had been inspired by a browse on Netflix.

McTominay watched part of the self-titled Beckham documentary on the streaming service on Friday night and was reminded of what representing the club means.

Just wearing that red shirt was enough to propel McTominay to a different plane.

Maybe it was fitting that it was the Scot, an academy graduate who has spent 21 years attached to the club, who was the hero at the weekend. Inspired by a Beckham documentary, scoring two injury-time goals while wearing a black armband in tribute to Lady Cathy Ferguson, Sir Alex's wife, it now feels as inevitable as that defining comeback felt implausible for the previous 92 minutes.

McTominay's delve into the four-part Beckham documentary is another example of the kind of character he is. He's been a part of the club since he was five and just gets it.