JT backing McGinn to storm Prem

JOHN Terry is backing Villa midfielder John McGinn to be a hit in the Premier League.

McGinn was one of the bargains of the transfer window for Villa last summer when Steve Bruce plucked him from Hibernian for around £2.5 million.

He played a crucial role in the club’s rise back into the Premier League and scored the decisive second goal at Wembley as Villa beat Derby in the play-off final.

Terry has been working with the Scot on the training pitch since his return to the club alongside Dean Smith in October – and hasn’t got a bad word to say about him.

Indeed, Villa are weighing up a new contract for the Scottish international.

“What a player he is. He is a great lad,” said Terry, Villa’s assistant coach. “He gets that backside into people and rolls people! He is an absolute pleasure to work with.

“I missed him because I left and he signed, but then going in and working with him on a daily basis is great. He is a real talent and I think he is going to take the Premier League by storm this year because people aren’t going to know what to expect. He is a real top talent that is keen to get better.

“I didn’t know too much about him before but I saw the speculation. Celtic have missed one there, for sure.

“There were a few clubs in for him but Steve Bruce managed to get him in at Villa, which is great for us. We are delighted to have him because he is an integral part of our squad now.”

It is no surprise Manchester United have been linked with a move for McGinn, said his former boss, Alan Stubbs.

Stubbs took McGinn to Hibs in 2015 and believes it is no shock the biggest and best are interested in the midfielder. “John has gone from strength to strength every time he has stepped up,’’ he said. “His move from St Mirren to Hibs was what he needed and then going from Hibs to Villa has taken his game to another level.”