MANCHESTER United's midfielder Scott McTominay has been highly praised by an Old Trafford great for his assured performance in his team's remarkable win over Paris St-Germain in the Champions League this week.

McTominay, whose grandparents live in Helensburgh, raised eyebrows when he opted to represent Scotland on the international stage rather than England, where he was born.

And he defied some unkind social media snipers with a fine display as United beat PSG 3-1 in the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night to secure a place in the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals – no doubt with his family and many admirers in Helensburgh watching closely on live TV.

READ MORE: McTominay delights Helensburgh family with Scotland decision

Arthur Albiston, the former United and Scotland defender who works with the club's official TV channel, MUTV, praised the 22-year-old after he was named in the starting line-up by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when injuries, illness and suspension wiped out the caretaker manager's entire first-choice midfield.

Albiston told the Advertiser's sister title, The Herald: “Scott didn’t just play, he played really well.

“They needed him with the suspensions and injuries they had. He did a fantastic job. But that is the case whenever he comes in.

“He hasn’t played a lot of football. It is difficult when you haven’t had a run of consecutive games. He is trying to impress a new manager as well. He did remarkably well on a stage like that away from home in Europe.

“Scott did a great job for United in the holding role. He looked like an experienced midfield player, not a young lad. He knows how to break up the play, he gave away a few free-kicks at the right time. It was an accomplished performance. He is in on merit. He wouldn’t get a game for any other reason.

“You can hang your hat on him to do a job for you in the middle of the park. For somebody who hasn’t played a lot of football, he gave a tremendous performance. Mourinho was alleged to have used him to get up [Paul] Pogba’s nose. But he is in there on merit. No doubt about it.”

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French superstar Pogba missed the game in his homeland after getting sent off in injury time in the first leg – but Albiston believes McTominay can retain his position in the starting line-up, both domestically and on the continent, when he returns.

“There is no doubt they can play together,” he said. “Paul has different attributes. He has a very silky touch for such a tall guy and he is very nimble on his feet for somebody so tall.

“Scott brings different things to the side. He can do the same job that Darren Fletcher did in a great United side that was so successful.

"His team-mates would be the first to admit that they needed a player like Darren who can get the ball for them. I am sure the current players will say exactly the same thing about Scott. He has shown such experience for somebody so young.”

Albiston feels the comparisons with Fletcher, another defensive midfielder to come through the youth ranks at Carrington and play for both United and Scotland, are unavoidable.

“They are very similar,” he said. “They are both tall and gangly. Sometimes they can look a bit ungainly when they are coming up against guys who are six or seven inches smaller than them.

“I watched him coming through the youth teams and he had to play in different positions, including a few games up front, because they were short of strikers. He dealt with it fine. He probably understands the service the front players want as a result.

“We cover most of the academy games on MUTV. I have done that for the last 12 years or so. I’ve seen most of the young players come through.

"Being able to play in three or four positions is not a bad attribute to have. Sometimes you can get taken for granted, but it will do him no harm.

“He played up front for the best part of a full season. It is not a bad thing to do when you are learning the game. He is benefitting from that now, he is aware of what is going on around about him.”

READ MORE: Helensburgh fans head for Hampden to back McTominay

Edinburgh-born Albiston played for Scotland on 14 occasions – including in the final group game of the Mexico ’86 World Cup against Uruguay, when Sir Alex Ferguson preferred him to current manager McLeish.

With McTominay having won five caps since making his debut in March last year, Albiston is hopeful the high level he is playing at with a resurgent United will help him to perform well, possibly even as a starter, for the national team.

“Thirty years ago or so there were a lot of Scottish boys playing for English clubs,” he said.

“More importantly, there were a lot of boys getting good experience playing in European competition with Scotland. Guys at Aberdeen, Dundee United, Rangers and Celtic were all getting good experience.

"It all benefits you when you play internationally. I would like to think United are going to be playing at that level for a few seasons. That will benefit Scotland.”