Crocked McGinn will sit out clash with Liverpool
ASTON VILLA star John McGinn is set to be rested for tonight’s Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Liverpool after playing through the pain barrier in recent weeks.
The Scotland midfielder was in considerable discomfort following Villa’s 2-0 win over Newcastle last month, and a subsequent scan revealed a tear to a thigh muscle. He is thought to have sustained the damage while on international duty.
Sportsmail understands that McGinn has been having painkilling injections in order to get through matches, and was not able to take a full part in training sessions.
He is believed to have resumed normal training again only last week, even though he still played every minute of the matches against Manchester United, Chelsea and Leicester City.
Despite the damage, the 25-year-old is keen to continue playing to help Villa ease their relegation fears. After Liverpool, they have two home games against direct rivals at the bottom of the table: Southampton on Saturday, followed by Norwich on Boxing Day.
McGinn made a superb start to the season, scoring three goals, and although he has been quieter in recent weeks, he remains one of Dean Smith’s most important players.
The former Hibs star signed an improved contract with Villa in August, which they hope will keep him at the club for at least the next five years.
Meanwhile, stand-in Anfield boss Neil Critchley will take a good-luck call from Jurgen Klopp tonight before throwing his kids into the most daunting test of their young lives with the message: play in the Liverpool way.
With Klopp and 20 of his first-team squad in Qatar preparing for the Club World Cup semi-final tomorrow, Under-23 coach Critchley has been handed the daunting task of fielding the youngest team in Liverpool’s history when they take on Villa.
And, while he knows it will take a miracle for the youngsters to cause an upset — they lost to Oldham, Fleetwood (on penalties) and Accrington in the EFL Trophy — he will still demand they do themselves and the club justice.
‘It’s a great opportunity for all of us, myself included,’ said Critchley. ‘I’ll be proud to lead the team out, but any pride I will have will come from the players producing what they are capable of.
‘There’s no better feeling for a young coach than seeing the players who are representing you and who you have a relationship with go and play to the best of their abilities. If they do, then that is where my pride will come from.
‘I’m sure Jurgen will be in touch with us. He takes great interest in our young players.’
Some of the youngsters on view tonight have tasted first-team action on a big occasion — goalkeeper Caiomhin Kelleher, defender Sepp Van Den Berg, strikers Harvey Elliott and Rhian Brewster and midfielder Pedro Chirivella all figured in the thrilling 5-5 draw with Arsenal in the last round.
Midfielder Curtis Jones, the regular Under-23s skipper, and right-back Neco Williams also impressed in that game and would have played tonight but Klopp has taken them to Qatar.
Critchley insists the experience will be beneficial for them whatever the result, adding: ‘We understand it will be extremely difficult. We expect Villa to field a strong team. The players who we will take on to the Villa Park pitch are a group I work with constantly. It is not like we are throwing a team together.’