Having come from the Scottish top-flight to the English Championship, nay-sayers had John McGinn written off as ‘another SPFL flop’. Given the league has played a home to the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, and Moussa Dembele in recent years, though, it might be time for English fans to stop turning their noses up at the Scottish game.
Aston Villa fans have learned this the hard way. Having seen McGinn as squad filler on his arrival in the second tier, McGinn was their star face as he led the club back to the Premier League, scoring the goal to send them up in some style. Now acclimatised to the top flight, McGinn has every opportunity to step up even further.
What makes him so special?
Limitless energy and an ability to compete with people far bigger than his size. You often see McGinn happy to fly into challenges with players who would, on paper at least, brush him aside. A solid dribbler who can move through the middle of the pitch with ease, too, he’s got the engine and the technique to keep the ball moving either with a horizontal pass or a move through the middle of the park.
He gets the ball moving through the air, too, and is happy to hit diagonals to full-backs and wingers. A midfielder with solid vision and great work ethic, he could be one of the standout midfielders in the top-flight if he can stay fit this year to come. An excellent player who can both win fouls and win tackles, he’s a player who can really add an extra dimension to the Villa midfield.
Another season like last year, though, and we could see the Scot on the move again. He’s shown that he’s far more than a bench warmer in the top-flight; can he go on to establish himself in the eyes of even bigger clubs?