John McGinn knows that when March rolls around, he’ll be involved in the biggest games of his career so far with Scotland.
The Aston Villa star is enjoying a brilliant season, featuring 15 times in the middle of Dean Smith’s engine room. A more attacking role has brought his game on leaps and bound on both the domestic and international fronts.
Thriving at Aston Villa. (Photo by James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
A key player for Steve Clarke’s Scotland team, McGinn believes the upcoming Euro play-offs will be the highlight of his career thus far.
He told the Daily Record: “They are going to be the two biggest games of my career. There’s no doubt about that. Hopefully come the end of them it will by my biggest achievement to date.
“It’s two really tough games. Even though the final is away from home hopefully the Tartan Army will come over in their numbers and give us the best possible chance. In the play-off final with Villa I played in front of about 90,000 people. The other day it was about 70,000 at Old Trafford. You start to get used to it as it becomes normal.”
History in the making? (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
“It’s a dream to play for Scotland. From being a young boy it was something I’ve always wanted and every time I get called up it’s a dream come true. It’s mad. Now it’s about representing the shirt with pride and hopefully in March we can provide what the country is craving.”
McGinn is Scotland’s key player on current Scots form
Villa’s decision to move him into a more attacking midfield role has paid dividends for the midfielder’s game. Scotland are also reaping the rewards of this change.
Six goals in his last three Scots games have fired Clarke’s side into good form ahead of two potentially historic matches.
A vital cog (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
McGinn clearly sense he has the chance to write himself into modern day Scottish football history. Victory over Israel then either Norway or Serbia would secure Scotland’s first appearance at a major tournament since 1998.
If the country is to get there, McGinn will have to be at the top of his game and it’s good to hear he seems up to the challenge.