Midfielder looks back to his best
DEAN Smith believes Villa have another new signing the Premier League might just have forgotten about.
Villa have snapped up Matty Cash, Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez in what has been a fruitful fortnight on the transfer front.
However, at Bodymoor Heath there’s a familiar face who looks back to his brilliant best and is primed to start the new campaign in fine form – just like he did last year.
That man is John McGinn. The Scot is firing on all cylinders again after looking a shadow of his former self throughout Project Restart. McGinn sustained a broken ankle and a hairline fracture in his shin in cruel, back-to-back injuries and returned to action against Sheffield United last term only half-fit. The central midfielder featured in Villa’s final 10 games and made nine starts.
“We lost some key players during the season last year and John McGinn, it’s like having a new signing now the way he feels,” said Smith.
“He was probably 80 per cent of what he could have been when he came back during Project Restart but now training sessions have lifted and the levels have gone up with Matty Cash and Ollie Watkins involved.”
McGinn has played throughout pre-season but was rested against Burton ahead of the season-opener against
Sheffield United on Monday evening.
Smith also revealed how he plans to attack the year ahead.
“We spoke with Jack (Grealish) about what we’re looking to do and who we’re looking to bring in and he was quite happy that we’re getting quality over quantity this season; that should certainly improve the starting XI,’’ he said.
“We’ve become more solid. The last four games we only conceded three shots on target, which is an amazing thing to do against any team in the Premier League. Two of them were goals, at Everton and the last game against West Ham.
“We have to make sure we find the right balance and we’re not gung-ho. We’ve got a good defensive organisation and discipline and bringing Ollie Watkins in, and having Jack and looking to add as well, we should have enough potency to help us move up the league.”