Aston Villa news: Opinion – Mike Taylor on John McGinn

“Aye, it is mad,” said John McGinn, and it was, in a way.

He had just left the field after helping Scotland win in Poland – perhaps not quite “one of the greatest days in the history of Scottish football” as a local reporter suggested, but a good day all the same.

“My dad sent a nice text to say it’s surreal seeing his boy in the top-five all-time scorers for Scotland, which is a bit mad,” said McGinn. “I’m sure I’ll wind Ally McCoist up the next time he’s commentating on a Villa game!”

He should, too. McGinn’s goal, a few days after one that beat Croatia, was his 20th for Scotland – one more than McCoist. At better than one every four caps, McGinn’s strike rate for his country is not far off that achieved by the legendary Rangers striker. “Super became more super than super,” as Matthew Lindsay of the Herald, external put it.

Whether international performances relate much to a player’s prospects when they return to domestic football is debatable, but it will be very much to Villa’s benefit if McGinn walks back into Bodymoor Heath wearing the grin he sported in Warsaw.

Villa’s fortunes over the past few seasons can largely be tracked against the progress of their captain. McGinn in form has usually meant Villa look good. Lately – though one point off third place is hardly doing badly – Villa have lost a little altitude, while McGinn’s season to date has been patchy, either side of injury.

Unai Emery is among many who have often spoken admiringly of McGinn’s dedication and leadership skills. Much of the praise he attracts is in this vein – a jovial, positive competitor, taking his football seriously but not himself.

All the ‘what a great guy’ praise is entirely true and well-intended, but sometimes overshadows just what a skilled footballer he is. Technically proficient, a clever picker of a pass with a dangerous striking ability from outside the area. In form, McGinn proves that he is still often underestimated, not unlike his team last season.

“We’ve been through a right rough spell,” said McGinn. “Personally, a long goal drought for club and country, but I’ve managed to get two in two, back on scoring form and back to winning ways for us [Scotland].”

International breaks often seem to disrupt the rhythm of clubs, but if this one has helped McGinn rediscover his groove, Villa will have good reason to be thankful for it.

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