'Massively underrated' Scott McTominay hailed for making 'rigid' Antonio Conte build Napoli team around him as ex-Man Utd midfielder chases down Italian title

McTominay has been in truly exceptional form for Napoli, and has scored five goals in his last three outings, with the club three points clear of Inter at the Serie A summit. Manager Conte has altered his usual three-at-the-back system to give McTominay a roaming midfield role, and former Scotland international Don Hutchison has hailed his countryman.

McTominay has developed into one of Napoli's most important players under Conte and he has even been compared to Germany legend Lothar Matthaus and former Juventus hero Arturo Vidal, so good have his performances been throughout the campaign.

Hutchinson told goldenpanda: "He's scored more Serie A goals than Denis Law now, breaking his record at the weekend.

"He's playing in his best position. The biggest compliment is that his manager, especially someone like Antonio Conte, who's normally been quite rigid in his playing style, he's gone from a back three to a back four to accommodate Scott McTominay. I mean, that's a massive compliment when a manager changes your complete style and philosophy for one player.

"So [he is] massively underrated. Steve Clarke puts him in his best position for Scotland. That's why he scores goals when he's playing for the national side. Conte's doing the same thing and now what you've got is you've got a No.8, No.10 that's got freedom to get in the box and score goals.

"That's what he's good at. He's not a No. 6. He's not a deep-lying midfield player. He can play at eight, of course, he can do it, but he needs the license to go forward. He's one of those sorts of players where you build a side around him because he will get and he should be getting double figures every season."

Napoli's Serie A title destiny is in their own hands, and they face Lecce, Genoa, Parma, and Cagliari in their final four games of the campaign. If they manage to take 12 points, they will be champions.