Former West Ham United and Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has implored Aston Villa boss Dean Smith to build his team around midfielder John McGinn.
The Scottish international has been one of the team’s key performers over the last two seasons, helping them gain promotion to the Premier League in the summer of 2019.
Performing to a high standard during the 2018/2019 promotion-winning season, when he found the net six times and contributed 10 assists, McGinn continues to provide Villa with a number of crucial qualities – three goals and three assists last term saw the former Hibernian ace help Villa remain in England’s top-flight.
Signing a new contract with Villa back in August 2019, McAvennie has now called on Smith to build a team around the Scotsman. Taking to Football Insider about the midfielder’s performances for Villa, McAvennie said:
“McGinn has been a brilliant player for Villa.
“I think he’s enjoying it down there now with Barkley and Grealish, Aston Villa have bought extremely well.
“They’re a good flowing team, they got beat last weekend, but when they’re full strength they’re a good team.
“It’s good for Scotland as well.
“He’s a player that you can build the team around him.”
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Smith is currently facing something of a quandary as to the personnel he should select in his midfield.
Douglas Luiz, Ross Barkley, McGinn and Conor Hourihane are all vying for the three midfield places in Villa’s side but form over the last two games has been a struggle.
McGinn has certainly been an excellent performer for Villa over the last two years and McAvennie’s calls for Smith to “build the team” around him seem justified.
