BREAKING NEWS: John McGinn finally speaks on his career decision on Villa Park summer exit

BREAKING NEWS: John McGinn finally speaks on his career decision on Villa Park summer exit

John McGinn has revealed how, up until a Steve Clarke-inspired comeback, he believed he would have to leave Aston Villa.

After leading the Villains to promotion from the Championship and making an immediate impression in the Premier League, the former Hibs and St. Mirren midfielder enjoyed an incredible start to his career there. But after taking over for former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard, Unai Emery attempted to put his mark on things, which led to a slump in his play the previous season.

McGinn is now at the back of the top of his game for a side flying high and competing for the Champions League spots at the top of the table. The Spaniard has been a massive part of that but McGinn also credits the Scotland boss. Emery questioned why the Tartan Army hero wasn’t scoring as much for club as for country, prompting a conversation about what position gets the best out of him.

That conversation helped him return to the team in a more advanced role after spending a few games on the bench, and he hasn’t looked back.

McGinn said to TnT Sports, “I believed my work was over. As a player, you kind of get a feeling. The fans believed that I was honking at the time because I had just left the squad and they were winning a few games. like a football player, you’re not foolish; you realize that you could have to look elsewhere, like I did.

“I spoke to the manager. He had every stat, every detail on his notepad, times of appearances I had played for St Mirren, Hibs, goals. Then he asked what my preferred position was and I just said not on the bench. I think he was getting a gauge on why I hadn’t been playing so well, he then brought up the Scotland goals.

“Why are you scoring this for Scotland and not Aston Villa? Maybe a thank you to Steve Clarke putting me higher up the pitch because I said I play here for Scotland, a right-10, right-wing, which I hadn’t done before.

“Steve Clarke showed a bit of faith and I started getting some goals. From there he said, before we played Man United, he said you might play, might not. Next game I was on the bench! I came on and the next game I started. Ever since then I have played the majority of the game which has been good.”

Get more related news on sportviewers.com