Scott McTominay has opened up on the intense training that that Premier League footballers are required to do in the gym. 

The towering 6ft 3in midfielder has enjoyed a solid start to the season with Man United, scoring five times in the Premier League – notably netting a brace to help United beat Chelsea 2-1 at the start of December.

Back in 2022, McTominay posted a picture of his muscular physique on Instagram during a late-night training session ahead of the start of the 2022-23 season. 

‘I think people would have their eyes opened if they knew how hard players work in the gym and the level of intensity that’s required to push yourself to hit those goals,’ the Scotland international said in an interview with FourFourTwo. 

Man United midfielder Scott McTominay, pictured here in 2022, has opened up on his impressive body transformation

The 27-year-old, here pictured in 2017, opened up on how hard he has had to work to bulk up  

He also revealed that he had once been given gym advice by ex-Man United midfielder Paul Pogba

‘My body has been transformed over the past seven years. At 17 or 18 I was 70kg, at 6ft 3in; now I’m 85kg.

‘I had to work exceptionally hard to put on muscle.

‘I spoke to Paul Pogba about it once: he said, “When you get to 23, you’ll put on the muscle.” But it didn’t happen and I remember thinking, “Where is it then?!”

His work in the gym may have also helped him rise up in Erik ten Hag’s pecking order, with the midfielder starting in 12 of the 16 appearances he’s made for United in the Premier League so far this season. 

For context, Mctominay made 24 appearances for United last season and was named in the Dutch manager’s starting line-up in just 10 of those games and was reportedly in talks to move to West Ham in the summer in a bid to get more game time. 

He had also captained United during their recent goalless draw against Liverpool at Anfield after Bruno Fernandes was suspended. 

McTominay, who has been lauded for his performances this season, added: ‘I’m fortunate because I’ve always had a love of the gym. I like to see marginal gains and I’m competitive in there. 

‘The same goes for diet and sleep – I’d say I’m disciplined and that’s something I take pride in.’

He claimed that he has ‘had to work exceptionally hard to put on muscle’ in the past few years

McTominay has enjoed a fine start to the sesaon, rising to start in 12 of the 16 appearances he’s made for United

United manager Erik ten Hag has also lumped praise on the midfielder amid his excellent form in front of goal 

Earlier this month, the Scot was lauded by his manager for his hard work in winning back his place in the United starting XI, with Ten Hag also lumping praise on Harry Maguire. 

Ten Hag said: ‘They are here, they are great players and have played themselves into the team.

‘That’s what you expect from every player, there has to be dedication to aim for this.’

On McTominay’s recent form in front of goal, the Dutchman added: ‘Actually from the first moment I saw, he has a very good smell to make it in the box and he is a very good finisher.

‘That is not a surprise when we bring it and the way we want to play and get the balls to them he will finish.’