Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has Jose Mourinho to thank after breaking into the United first team.

The 21-year-old academy graduate has made 20 appearances for Man United this season - and has sometimes even been preferred to Paul Pogba.

McTominay was handed his debut by Mourinho in May 2017, coming off the bench in 2-0 defeat away at Arsenal.

He earned his first cap for Scotland in March and - with a contract until 2021 - is hoping to continue his development at Old Trafford.

“Jose Mourinho has been absolutely incredible to me this year,” McTominay said to Manutd.com.

“He's helped me so much in terms of what I can do, from being more humble, to being better on the training pitch and just being a better person in general.”

Mourinho is not renowned for developing youngsters - but McTominay is proof that he will give youth a chance.

Jose's six words of advice

McTominay was promoted to the first team at the end of 2016/17 season and the 21-year-old has now revealed what the Portuguese coach said to him.

“When I first came into the group he [Mourinho] said 'the players have to like you' and it's one of the most important things going into a new dressing room, that you are a likeable person and you get on with everybody," McTominay said. "That has stood me in good stead.

“It's important to be liked and on the pitch. It's the manager having the faith to play me that's been incredible and I can't thank him enough.”

The youngster certainly took Mourinho's advice on board.

McTominay helps Valencia

After Saturday's FA Cup semi-final win over Tottenham, McTominay earned the respect of Manchester United supporters with a classy gesture in the tunnel.

He wasn't named in the squad to face Spurs but, upon seeing Antonio Valencia struggling, could be seen saying, “Captain, put your arm around me".

Serbian teammate Nemanja Matic believes McTominay will be a Man United player for years to come.

“He is amazing," Matic told Sky Sports News. “He will be a big player for Manchester United.

“I like him because he is a very nice guy and he doesn’t have a problem to ask something before the game. I am always there to help him. When I came to Manchester, I saw within a few days he would become a top player.

“He is working very hard, but I don’t want to say too many things about him because he is still very young. But he deserves all the good things.”

McTominay listened carefully to his manager and is developing into the perfect professional.