Aston Villa

McGinn worthy of Holt praise

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OPINION

Grant Holt named-dropped Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn when explaining how underrated Scottish football is and it should have the 24-year-old grinning from ear-to-ear.

The former Villans forward used McGinn to highlight how wrong some people down south were to think all Scottish football had going for it was Rangers and Celtic.

In order to make his point Holt named three players that had featured in the SPL but were currently stealing headlines and hearts by wowing in England on a regular basis.

The retired attacker highlighted Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk, pointing out he had just been named England’s Player’s Player of the Year, Norwich’s Teemu Pukki and the Villans’ McGinn.

Holt revealed that he thought the 24-year-old had been outstanding for the Villans this season and that showed there was quality lurking in Scottish football.

“People don’t realise the quality there is,” said Holt, as quoted by the Scottish Sun.

“Look at Virgil van Dijk — just named England’s Player’s Player of the Year — but Southampton had to go to Scotland and get him.

“John McGinn’s been outstanding at Aston Villa this season.

“Even at my own club Norwich, Teemu Pukki’s had a great season and has scored 29 goals, but he had that season at Celtic that prepared him for British football.

“A lot of people down south know about Rangers and Celtic and nothing else.”

McGinn joined the Villans from Hibernian in the summer and he is no doubt thrilled that Holt is using him to defend Scottish football and mentioning him in the same breath as a player like Van Dijk do so.

The Reds defender is winning accolade after accolade this season and to be named alongside him, is a testament to how well McGinn has done this season.

The 24-year-old has featured 41 times the Villans, scoring six goals and assisting 10 in the process, and has took the Championship by storm.

Given that McGinn is no doubt passionate about Scottish football getting the respect it deserves as a proud Scott, he no doubt will be super thrilled by Holt using him to defend it.

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