JOSE MOURINHO steered Manchester United star Scott McTominay to choose Scotland over England, according to Craig Brown.
The former Tartan Army boss believes the Portuguese manager was influential in the midfielder’s decision because he has a “great affection” for Scotland.
McTominay was born in England, but has reportedly snubbed approaches from the Three Lions to represent the nation of his grandparents.
Sir Alex Ferguson has been credited for persuading the 21-year-old to rebuff the advances of England, but Brown has suggested the ex-Chelsea gaffer would have played more of a key role.
The 77-year-old told the Daily Record: “I read somewhere Sir Alex Ferguson was influential in McTominay’s decision. But the most influential guy will have been Jose Mourinho.
“Mourinho has a great affection for Scotland. He did his coaching badges at Largs and loved his time here.
“When he started at Chelsea I was at Derby and I met him at a reserve game – in the hamburger queue.
“I was watching the game with the Derby reserve team and I said to him, ‘Don’t you think you can come to England and beat Alex Ferguson.’
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“Mourinho replied, ‘No chance, it’s not him or the Scottish I want to beat – it’s the English!’
“If the boy had said to Mourinho, ‘Scotland or England?’, I think Mourinho would have steered him down the Scotland route as he is so well disposed to Scotland. I believe Mourinho would also be supportive of him playing for Scotland.”
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Brown, who managed Scotland from 1993 until 2001, added: “It’s a massive coup for Alex (McLeish) to land McTominay for Scotland.
“Pipping England to get a player is just like beating them in a game.”
The youngster is expected to be included in McLeish’s squad to face Costa Rica and Hungary.
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