---
title: "Dean Smith suggests John McGinn could have a fight for his starting place"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/01/26/dean-smith-comments-john-mcginn-fight-starting-place/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-01-26T19:00:00Z"
modified: "2021-01-26T19:00:00Z"
---

# Dean Smith suggests John McGinn could have a fight for his starting place

[John McGinn](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/01/21/dean-smith-fumes-over-pathetic-john-mcginn-yellow-card-suspended/) is set to return from [suspension](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/01/21/dean-smith-fumes-over-pathetic-john-mcginn-yellow-card-suspended/) ahead of Aston Villa’s Premier League meeting with Burnley on Wednesday, but Dean Smith has warned the 26-year-old that he may not walk straight back into the team after [Marvelous Nakamba impressed](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/01/25/marvelous-nakamba-answered-critics-performance-newcastle/) in his absence.

The 27-year-old Zimbabwean started alongside Douglas Luiz in midfield in Saturday’s 2-0 win over Newcastle and, despite it being his [first league appearance since mid-December](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marvelous-nakamba/leistungsdaten/spieler/324882), he showed no signs of rust against the Magpies. Smith has duly warned McGinn not to automatically expect an instant return to the starting line-up as a divine right.

The manager said in Tuesday’s pre-match [press conference](https://video.avfc.co.uk/video/dm9kJTdDMF85cXY5dGJnZCU3QyUyRnNlY3Rpb24lM0ZzbHVnJTNEaG9tZSU3Q2hvbWUlMkZoZXJvX2Nhcm91c2Vs?lang=en): “John McGinn… came out the team and he’ll be thinking ‘am I going to get in against Burnley?’ because the lads played so well without him. You want your key players questioning whether they’re going to be getting back into the team.”

### READ ASTON VILLA VERDICT

McGinn has made 16 Premier League appearances this season, scoring one goal and supplying five assists ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/john-mcginn/leistungsdaten/spieler/193116)). Only Jack Grealish has [set up more goals for Villa in 2020/21](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/aston-villa/leistungsdaten/verein/405/reldata/%262020/plus/1), so Smith is unlikely to leave a creative ball winner out of the team if he doesn’t have to do so.

Nakamba did very well to limit Newcastle to only [one shot on target](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55096964), and he [turned over the ball numerous times](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1485256/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021-Aston-Villa-Newcastle-United) to ensure attacks didn’t form. However, McGinn isn’t often left out when available, so he might come back into the team against Burnley.

Nakamba is a backup midfielder, mostly called upon when Villa’s first-choice options are unavailable. He has made eight appearances in all competitions this season but hasn’t had more than two consecutive Premier League appearances since last term ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/marvelous-nakamba/leistungsdaten/spieler/324882)).

He did his job when called upon and ably deputised for McGinn, but the Scotland midfielder could still get the nod tomorrow despite Smith’s words of warning.