Scott McTominay is known by another name to a certain legion of fans and Jose Mourinho, the manager who launched his Manchester United career, tuned into that frequency when appraising Tottenham’s defeat at Old Trafford.



“They had more emotion than us, you see for example McTominay’s performance, the globality of his performance, he was dominant,” said Mourinho, with touching admiration for his former player.



It was an appropriate turn of phrase. “McDominate” has become a byword for the 22-year-old who is becoming essential to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. His early return from an ankle injury coincided with United’s best performance of the season in a 2-1 win over Tottenham that could have significant consequences.



Losing to Mourinho at Old Trafford would have sharpened the knives for Solskjaer but instead the incisions were made by United because of the strength McTominay provided in...