Scotland star lauded by boss as 'complete player' as ex-Celtic man makes anti-British claim at EPL coach

The £30million midfielder has enjoyed a dream start to life in Naples, scoring just seconds after coming on in a 5-0 Coppa Italia win over Palermo on Thursday before and started for the second Serie A game in a row in yesterday’s weekend win at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

The inclusion of McTominay prompted the Italian boss to make a tactical switch in the win over Monza, as Conte opted to move to a 4-3-3, with the 27-year-old given more freedom in an advanced role. “Nothing happens by chance,” explained the Napoli boss. “We work on these situations in training so that we can use those positions to create problems for the opposition.

“Scott is a complete player, versatile, who can be a trequartista behind the striker, he can be a mezzala in a three-man midfield, play in a two-man midfield or even wide in a 5-4-1 with licence to attack - a player who has goals in his blood,” beamed Conte. “He’s very good at making runs into the box. He has excellent technical qualities, as well as an important physical stature and he’s strong in the air. In his DNA, he has quite a few goals.”

Sold to the Italian giants on transfer deadline day by Manchester United, the Scottish midfielder’s impressive start to life in Serie A saw ex-Celtic and Napoli forward Paolo Di Canio blast his former Red Devil’s boss Eric ten Hag, accusing the Dutch head coach of having an anti-British bias.

The Dutch boss was humbled by ex-Celtic head coach Ange Postecoglou and his Tottenham Hotspur team on Monday, as the North London side ran out comfortable 3-0 winners, leading the former Celtic striker to criticise ten Hag’s summer recruitment.

"How can you sell Scott McTominay for £30 million and sign Ugarte for £50million?,” raged Di Canio “He is used to Lisbon. He was excellent there for two years, but the Premier League is another thing. In Manchester, it was 10 degrees, it's been raining for ten days, in Lisbon it's 25. The truth is that ten Hag doesn't like British players, he doesn't buy any British players. Last year he bought Rasmus Hojlund, this season Joshua Zirkzee, who has a physicality that works well in Italy.”