Work rate while McGinn has added to his composure in a big way
VILLA v SHEFFIELD UTD TONIGHT 6.00 LIVE ON SKY
BY GAVIN BERRY IN a parallel universe they would have lined up together in front of a packed Hampden in Scotland’s opening game of the Euros. Instead, John McGinn and John Fleck will be on opposite sides at an eerily empty Villa Park with the eyes of the world on them. The international teammates take centre stage when the first of 92 remaining Premier League games kicks off tonight. And a huge global audience is set to tune in for the first English top-flight fixture in three months. McGinn’s Aston Villa are battling against relegation while Fleck’s shock troops Sheffield United are in the fight for a Champions League place. Yet it could have been so different for the pair had the coronavirus not struck and they had helped Steve Clarke’s side through the Euro 2020 play-offs. Scotland’s Group D opener at the finals would have been against the Czechs two days ago. Tonight’s stage will be in contrast to a frenzied Glasgow atmosphere with the game taking place behind closed doors.
But the fact two Scots are set to play key roles in a match of such huge magnitude is a boost for Clarke.
Billy Stark will be one of the millions glued to his box and the 63-year-old will home in on two of his former Scotland Under-21 pupils.
McGinn and Fleck have been top performers in their respective sides.
Stark noted contrasting styles when they first emerged but has watched them evolve into more complete midfield players. Fleck was first to burst on to the scene in 2007 when he was handed his
Rangers debut at the age of just 15 in a friendly against SV Lippstadt in Germany.
By the time Fleck was 17 he had shown the maturity to win and convert a penalty against Dundee United.
He had to live with comparisons to Wayne Rooney and ended up being sent to Coventry as a result of Gers’ financial collapse.
A successful four-year spell with the Sky Blues resulted in a move to Bramall Lane where he has been a standout.
Stark always admired Fleck’s composure but admits he maybe lacked the energy which has been McGinn’s trademark at St Mirren, Hibs and now Villa. However, Fleck is now more dynamic while the Villa star has added calmness to his game.
The former Under-21 gaffer said: “Without a doubt I’ll be settling down to watch McGinn v Fleck.
“If – and it’s big if – Scotland had got to Euro 2020 then you have to think they would both have been involved.
“McGinn has scored some big goals for us and Fleck has been around the squad as well and got some game time.
“I’ve dealt with young players and they’ve all got different degrees of ability. But what makes or breaks them is decision-making – the last thing they do with the ball.
“With the ability the two
Johns had, there was every chance that if the decisionmaking was there as they matured they would turn out to be top players.
“There’s an interesting comparison between the two because the energetic side isn’t a part you would have associated with Fleck in the early days but you certainly would have with McGinn.
“But the penny seems to have dropped with Fleck in terms of work rate whereas McGinn had natural energy and has added composure in a big way.
“You always felt if he could do that then you would have the full package and get goals as well. I was actually thinking about McGinn’s goal at Tottenham earlier this season and it was a composed finish.
“Fleck was in my second Under-21 group when he was
BILLY STARK
at Rangers. He was looked upon as an attacking midfielder so it’s interesting how his career has developed.
“He’s now an all-round midfielder but mainly with the game in front of him. He has such a lovely touch and always had the ability but lost his way for a wee spell, maybe on the back of the unfair hype.
“He eventually flourished and while it’s easy to say in retrospect, I thought the deeper midfield position would suit him given his gifted left foot and range of passing.
“In a top-six Premier League team he’s a controller in the middle of the park.”
Stark is excited about the return of live action down south where there will be plenty of Scottish interest.
He said: “You hope Kieran Tierney will be back for Arsenal and maybe Ryan Fraser if he plays the two Bournemouth games before his contract is up.
“I was a big fan of German football but the big attraction was full stadiums.
“Part of the attraction of the Premier League is the crowd but the quality of player doesn’t change. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool can play at such high tempo with no crowd at Anfield.”