Barry played for Aston Villa before his return to the Midlands with rivals West Bromwich Albion last year.
Alex McLeish has likened John McGinn to West Bromwich Albion’s Gareth Barry after calling up the Aston Villa midfielder to his latest Scotland squad.
McGinn moved to Villa – the former club of both McLeish, the Scotland manager, and Barry, the West Brom and ex-England midfielder – from Hibernian in the summer, and has made a strong start to his career in English football, scoring one goal and setting up two in his first nine appearances in claret and blue.
And, speaking via the Daily Record at Monday’s press conference, McLeish was full of praise for the nine-cap star.
“I’m not going to say he’s the new Gareth Barry but he’s of that standard,” said the 59-year-old. “He has so many qualities, they love him at Aston Villa.”
McLeish famously walked out on Birmingham City to join local rivals Villa in 2011 – two years after Barry had left for Manchester City, with whom he became a Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup winner.
Barry later spent four years at Everton before switching to West Brom at the start of last season. And the 37-year-old has helped his current employers to the top of the Championship standings this campaign – with six points and 14 places separating the Baggies and Aston Villa.
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