SPECIAL JOHN Smith salutes Villa’s miracle man Mcginn

FIT AGAIN: Mcginn is back on song after his ankle injury ( below)

DEAN SMITH has revealed why John Mcginn has been his miracle man.

Aston Villa boss Smith

( inset) says his inspirational midfielder unselfishly ly put his reputation at risk to help save Villa from m the drop.

Tomorrow, Villa host Southampton, with Mcginn back to his best form after an n injury nightmare last ast season.

The Scotland skipper injured his ankle against Saints last December and was ruled out for the rest of the season.

The lockdown delay meant he got back to play a key part in Villa’s miracle escape – but then a further scan showed the injury hadn’t fully healed.

He played Villa’s last 10 games trying to get match fit on the hoof, and Smith revealed: “He was very low at that time. It was remarkable he played the last 10 games as he wasn’t 100 per cent fit. But the only way we could get him match fit was to get him to play games.

“There were times where he didn’t look quite like the John Mcginn we knew, but now he’s showing for club and country what a good player he is.”

Villa are desperate to bounce back from the 3- 0 home defeat against Leeds that halted an incredible four- game winning start to the campaign.

Smith added: “We realise we’re not at that Liverpool or Manchester City level here.

“Leeds were very good and exploited us. They showed us that if you’re not on it you can really get punished.

“Our confidence was high but we went a bit gung- ho and tried to go toe- to- toe with them to get back into the game.”