Double Ginn!
JOHN DRINKS TO JACOB AND PHIL
JOHN McGINN says Philippe Coutinho and Jacob Ramsey are turning Aston Villa into a team no one wants to play.
The Scotland international was purring about the twin terrors after they ran riot in midweek – scoring all of Villa’s three goals between them in the draw with Leeds. Ramsey bagged a double and Coutinho notched his second goal in claret and blue since his loan move from Barcelona.
And the link-up play between the two caught the eye, with the pint-sized Brazilian setting up both his team-mate’s goals. McGinn said: “I hope that Jacob and Philippe can combine against Newcastle the way they did against Leeds – we’ll be a team that no one fancies playing.
“Jacob’s incredible. I spoke to him after the game – he probably doesn’t realise just how well he’s playing. “That’s the nice thing about him – he’s humble and hard-working.
“He was outstanding against Leeds. If he’d been more aggressive he was in with a chance of a hat-trick – not many players score a brace in the Premier League.
“It’s great for everyone involved – the local boy, a Villa fan, for all his coaches, everyone involved in his development will be proud. “And if he keeps performing like that, there will certainly be glances from the international set-up. “I know he’s playing for the Under-21s but he’s just got to keep his head down and keep playing the way he is at the moment.
“As for Philippe, he sees passes that no one else does. He’s a top player. There’s a reason why he’s played for some of the best clubs in the world and won some of the biggest tournaments. He will be pleased he’s putting things together, with a goal and two assists.”
Villa haven’t won on Tyneside for 17 years and McGinn said Steven Gerrard’s players will be going into the fixture with their eyes wide open.
He added: “There’s a new manager, new owner and new feeling around the place.
“Everyone’s excited to be a Newcastle supporter. It’s up to us to dampen that positivity and make them uncomfortable.
“They’ve invested well. It’s not easy when you’re upstairs at Newcastle to sign players in a relegation battle.
“But they’ve got the finances now – everyone knows that.
“From their point of view, it’s just a case of staying up and building on it – the same way we tried to do.”
McGinn will be catching up with international colleagues Ryan Fraser and Matt Targett – although the defender will miss out due to the terms of his loan deal from Villa Park.
McGinn shares a room with Fraser while on Scotland duty.
He added: “I’ve roomed with him for many years now. I was happy to see him score the other night but he can go home unhappy when we’re up there.
“It was good to see him and Matty Targett play so well. They were deserved winners against Everton.
“Everyone knows how important it was for them.
“They’ll be high on confidence. It’ll be up to us to quieten the crowd early on and show that we’re a quality side as well.”