Jack Grealish has admitted that he had no idea who John McGinn was when he joined Aston Villa.
Jack Grealish has admitted to the Sunday People (19/5; page 51) that he did not have a clue who John McGinn was when the midfielder first signed for Aston Villa last summer.
The Villans are gearing up for their second play-off final in a row after an outstanding end to the Championship season. It has been a remarkable turnaround for a side that looked destined to finish in the mid-table pack before the January transfer window.
But one player who has been superb all year is McGinn. The midfielder arrived from Hibernian last summer having established himself as one of the best players in the Scottish Premiership not playing for either of the Old Firm sides, and has since gone on to score six goals and provide nine assists in the Championship.
Anyone who had previously seen McGinn may not be surprised by his success with the Villans. But it appears that Grealish may have been as he discussed the moment he first heard about the 24-year-old.
“I didn’t have a clue who he was. Steve Bruce pulled me one day and said, ‘We’ve got a good playing coming in – John McGinn’,” he told the Sunday People.
“He has been a breath of fresh air. He is one of the best I have ever played with – and I’ve played with some decent players.”
The Times reports that Villa paid an initial £2.75 million for McGinn last year. So it has without question been one of the most inspired pieces of business that the club have done, particularly since their relegation from the Premier League.
And given how well McGinn has taken to life in the Championship, it should come as little surprise if he proves to be as much of a revelation in the top flight should Villa get across the line at Wembley.
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