Don’t know about the McGinniesta tag but at least we’ve done enough to lose unfair pub team slurs .. we’re on up
They’ve christened him McGinniesta – a nickname that makes the humble 23-year-old Scotland star wince.
But John McGinn has enough self-belief to know he’s in a vanguard of players determined to prove the lazy pub-league cliche attached to Scottish football is wide of the mark.
The Aston Villa midfielder added two more caps to his CV last weekend and is now a banker bet for Alex McLeish.
He argues his pathway via St Mirren and Hibs, plus Stephen O’Donnell ’s ascent from Kilmarnock, is evidence that our domestic game doesn’t deserve the cynicism it gets.
McGinn said: “I’m not sure about the McGinniesta stuff – I’m just trying to make an impression really.
“When a Scottish player goes down the road you’re always going to get doubters. People say you’re from a pub league which I think is wrong.
“It was important I went down and proved I could cut it. Thankfully so far I’ve managed to do that.
“It’s early days, a long season, but hopefully I can carry on. You definitely get more scrutiny. You’re always fighting a losing battle when you’re Scottish.
“Even against Albania on Monday night, people we r e l o ok i ng a t O’Donnell and saying, ‘ He only plays for Kilmarnock.’
“Yet you saw how assured he was in his performance and he was brilliant going forward.
“The way people look at Scott ish football is wrong but we have to star t showing we have talent on the park.”
McGinn ’s decision to pursue his career path down the M6 rather than at the other end of the M8 raised eyebrows after Celtic eventual ly matched Villa’s £2.8million bid for him.
But the former Hibee is unrepentant that his decision was the right one for him, with a weekly starting berth the main factor that won him over.
He said: “It was really important that the next place I was going, I was going to play. Thankfully, our manager Steve Bruce has shown faith in me.
“Villa are a massive club with great aspirations. I didn’t realise the scale of the club until I got my teeth into it.
“But the fans are sort of distant and slightly fed up with what has gone on so it’s up to us to change that.
“They crave success, the same way that the Hibs fans did, and thankfully we’ve put a smile back on their faces.
“Every match is a sell-out now – that’s the aim, to get bums back on seats and the club back into the top-flight. “Hopefully we can do it. “I feel as if I’m coming on leaps and bounds and the
gaffer has been great with me so far. I’m getting used to the league. There’s a new challenge every weekend so it’s very demanding but it suits my game.
“The league is a bit crazy – anybody can beat anybody. We’ve made some great signings though and hopefully we can push up the table.
“It was important to try to carry on my Hibs form wherever I was going. The manager threw me straight in and it’s good he has confidence in me.
“What I bring is different to what’s there. I might not have the same ability as other players but I’ve got a hunger and desire to win. “It‘s so demanding though. “Everyone in the world is trying to get to the Premier League so you have that challenge every week.
“That’s the aim, to be there next season. The new owners have come in and backed the manager, albeit late on in the window, but Aston Villa belongs in the Premier League.
“Hopeful ly we can be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.” McGinn was thrilled to help Scotland get off to a winning start in the UEFA Nations League on Monday night against Albania at Hampden. But he had his heart in his mouth at almost replaying the giveaway goal he handed Belgium last Friday. He sighed: “That Belgium goal was the lowest point of my Scotland career but you should learn from it.
“A couple of times I didn’t against the Albanians – but I can only try for the next time.
“Somebody shouted ‘ Back to the goalie’ – but the grass was a wee bit longer on Monday so I’ll use that e xcu s e and A l l an McGregor helped me out massively. “I contributed a lot more though and the team as whole did as well.”