Fans of Aston Villa have reason to celebrate: captain John McGinn is edging closer to a return, with Unai Emery suggesting the Scot could feature against Manchester United in the Premier League this weekend. After weeks out with a knee complaint, the midfielder is back in contention.
The injury struck in January’s slim 1-0 loss to Everton, halting McGinn’s run of consecutive starts in every Premier League outing this term, where his all-action displays had been central to the team’s setup.
Emery shared the positive ahead of the UEFA Europa League clash with Lille, noting McGinn’s resumption of training and travel with the squad to France – a strong sign of impending action.
Praising the player’s dual role, Emery said: ‘He’s here with the Lille group. Captains like him add special value everywhere. Happy he’s rejoined training.’
A prudent reintegration is planned, yet Emery is optimistic: ‘Eager for his form to return quickly. He’s match-ready, potentially from the outset or later.’
McGinn’s layoff correlated with Villa’s dip, limited to two league triumphs. Amid a congested calendar spanning domestic and European fronts, his expertise is vital.
As the Manchester United fixture approaches, expectations are high that McGinn will bolster Villa’s resolve, fostering consistency and momentum through this testing stretch.