European Cup winner delighted John is a Villan
Des Bremner must have wondered when the phone would ring as soon as John Mcginn arrived at Aston Villa.
“John made the same move as I did,” says the Villans’ legendary, European Cupwinning midfielder before the final “n” of Mcginn’s name has cleared the line.
“He came from Hibs, he plays the same position, and he’s got the same shirt number, so there are plenty of comparisons.”
Bremner isn’t remotely conceited in his assessment.
Instead the Aberdeenshire-born king of Villa No. 7s is driven by a desire to talk up a player who, at long last, looks like a proper successor to his Midlands throne.
“John has settled in nicely and done well in the games so far,” says Des, taking time out from the financial advisory business he runs these days to talk football.
“You can see he’s got a bit of ability about him and a bit of energy, which I think we needed at Villa.
“He’s keen to make things happen and get forward as and when the opportunities arise. So he’s a breath of fresh air, to be honest, as far as the midfield is concerned.” Mcginn has only made a handful of appearances for Steve Bruce’s side since his £2.75m move from Hibs, but he’s already a cult hero in the Holte End. Bremner made the switch from Easter Road to Villa Park in 1979 for exactly one tenth of that fee and is still a beloved figure. That’s what happens when you’re the midfield anchor of a team that beats Bayern Munich in a European Cup Final. Nowhere near as much is expected of Mcginn, who will join up with the Scotland squad for the upcoming double header with Belgium and Albania.
But Bremner, still a regular Villa Park attendee, reckons he’ll be hailed a hero if he can inspire Steve Bruce’s Championship title chasers back to the Premier League.
“I spoke to John after Villa played Wigan and he was putting himself down a bit, saying he hadn’t played as well as he’d have liked,” says the Banffshire native.
“Sometimes you do that as a footballer – you remember the things you’ve done wrong in games. But I reminded him of the things he’d done well.
“The fact the fans have taken to him so quickly says a lot.
“It has been a difficult few years for the club – and for the fans – and I think they appreciate what John has given them so far, which is a wee bit of quality allied to 100% effort.
“That’s what it’s going to take this season to get the club back to the Premier League – and Villa fans don’t forget players who give their all.” Alan Hutton is a prime example of just such player.
At the age of 33, and after a few uncertain years, the former Scotland international is once again a sure-fire starter at rightback for Villa.
Gaffer Steve Bruce sang
ahis praises through the week, hailing Hutton as the fittest player at the club.
For Bremner – one of four Scots in Villa’s European Cup-winning side, alongside Ken Mcnaught, Allan Evans and substitute, Andy Blair – his resurgence is a point of pride.
“It’s unbelievable, how it’s gone with
Alan,” he offers.
“During last season, there was a feeling that he wasn’t going to get another contract with Villa.
“But he got his chance and it’s his energy and enthusiasm that won the fans and the manager over. He gives 100%. That’s what the fans love to see.
“He gives you everything he’s got. That’s enough for the fans at this time and hopefully it’s enough to help get us back into the Premier League as well.
“It’s also nice to see a couple of Scots in there doing well, with Alan and John. “I think what we are about is we’ve got this appetite.
“We just want to go and win the ball, win tackles. We’ve got a bit of enthusiasm to go out to win the game we’re playing in.” In Bremner’s case, that game might have been a European final against Bayern. If Mcginn and Hutton can do the business against the likes of Brentford, Bolton and Birmingham City, that will do just as nicely for Villa this season.