Colin Hendry believes Scott McTominay’s rise at Napoli has put him back on the radar in England, with the former Scotland international suggesting somebody in the Premier League may be tempted to bring him back.
McTominay left Manchester United for Napoli in 2024 in a £26 million move, and the change of scene has clearly suited him. After being used more defensively at Manchester United, he has thrived in Italy and scored 27 goals across two seasons at Napoli, a return that has only strengthened the sense that his value has gone up rather than down.
Hendry told GOAL: “Seeing what he's done for Napoli a couple of years back, such a massive influence on them and what they achieved, then there's going to be somebody in England probably thinking, ‘you know what, we wouldn't mind bringing that here because he has got that winning mentality'.”
That is the key point in this story. McTominay is not being talked about purely as a goalscorer or a midfielder with energy. He is being described as the kind of player clubs want when they are trying to build something more durable: reliability, influence and a mentality that carries weight in big moments.
Why McTominay’s Napoli form has changed the conversation
The scale of McTominay’s impact at Napoli explains why this kind of Premier League return talk keeps surfacing. Transfer exit talk has already raged across a couple of windows, and there is also said to be a contract situation in Italy with new terms through to 2030 lined up.
That does not mean a move is imminent. But it does show how quickly a player’s profile can change once he leaves a difficult environment and finds the right fit. At Manchester United, McTominay was often viewed through the lens of role and responsibility. At Napoli, he has been judged on output, influence and consistency.
Hendry added that while the top six or top eight clubs in England all speak about winning, it is still not easy to find players with that mentality over the years. It is a familiar argument in football: talent matters, but so does the ability to handle pressure and deliver when it counts.
The international backdrop still matters
Hendry also reflected on McTominay’s role with Scotland, saying he was expected to be a big player in the World Cup and that it did not work out for him, as it did not for a lot of Scottish players. He said he was disappointed with Scotland in the World Cup and pointed out that the one shining light about the World Cup in 2026 was the Tartan Army.
McTominay’s international record has had its own moments of significance. During World Cup qualification, he scored an overhead kick against Denmark, underlining the kind of ability that can turn a tight game. But Scotland were then eliminated in another group stage exit on North American soil, a reminder that even standout individuals cannot always carry the burden alone.
For now, the main story is simpler. McTominay has rebuilt his reputation at Napoli, and that has opened the door to a very real conversation about whether an England club might one day decide to bring him back. If the right team thinks his winning mentality is worth paying for, this may not be the last time his name is linked with the Premier League.
