Mcginn is icing on Smith’s Villa cake

DEAN SMITH has revealed why cake fan John Mcginn (left) is his midfield fancy for Aston Villa. Mcginn goes into tonight’s clash at Arsenal on the back of a goal against Wolves and a cake-fest in midweek to celebrate his 27th birthday. Villa boss Smith says the Scotland star might be a bundle of laughs off the field but is his driving force on it. Smith said: “He’s been our best player this season. He’s really come to the fore again. “He’s not just doing it for us but for his country as well and he epitomises what we’re about.

“And he is a great character as well, a real laugh and has a bit of banter about him which is important.”

Mcginn treated his teammates at training this week by wheeling out the sweet trolley.

Smith (inset) said: “He’s a bit of a throwback in his style which means he probably gets overlooked a bit outside of the club but he’s certainly not overlooked here.

“He celebrated his birthday the other day and brought in probably the best array of cakes I’ve ever seen.

“There were some nice sponges, cup cakes, the lot. I was impressed.

“But he was careful

– he only had half a cup cake!”

Smith added: “Technically he’s a very good player. He hits long passes, short ones and uses his body well which is what players of another era used to do.”

The Villa boss is looking for his men to try and brush off the hangover from their dramatic late collapse against Wolves which saw them surrender a 2-0 lead to lose to three goals in the last 10 minutes.

But he doesn’t see a problem, adding: “If I felt we deserved to get beaten I’d have more concerns – but I don’t.” Smith is likely to underline that with an unchanged side, with full-back Matt Cash having recovered from a dead-leg that forced him off. Winger Leon Bailey and Bertrand Traore are both available but look likely to start on the bench.