Why John McGinn’s return has come at a crucial time for Aston Villa

John McGinn has been one of Aston Villa’s standout players in recent times. A fractured ankle did dampen his strong start to the season but as per The Athletic, the midfielder will resume training at the Bodymoor Heath this week.

With the ongoing Premier League campaign reaching the last legs, his potential return has come at a crucial time for boss Dean Smith and co. However, how will this affect the current rhythm of the squad?

McGinn has been out of the fray for the last 8 league matches and as a result, Villa have struggled to get going on the field. The devastating 3-2 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, in particular, was a cruel reminder as to why the Scotsman’s absence spells trouble for the Villans.

The club looked out-of-sorts in the midfield and it took no time for Jose Mourinho’s men to capitalize and win all 3 points. After 26 top-flight games, Aston Villa are placed 17th in the standings – a mere one point above the relegation zone. A tally of 50 goals conceded and 34 goals scored does make for a worrying read.

That said, Smith must work with what he has at his disposal to preserve their top-flight status at the very least. And to do that, McGinn’s return would provide a much-needed boost in the middle of the park.

McGinn scored on the opening day against Tottenham and also got on the scoresheet against Arsenal. He came up with an assist against Everton and Liverpool too. This shows how McGinn has stepped against the big sides in the league.

Aston Villa have fixtures coming up against Chelsea, Leicester, Man United, Liverpool and Arsenal and if McGinn can reproduce what he did earlier in the season when he was fit, Villa would benefit a lot.

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Aston Villa could certainly do with McGinn’s return and if the Scotsman hits the ground running upon his return from injury, it would be a boost for a club fighting relegation. The 25-year-old has been the glue between the attack and the defence and his return to the midfield would truly come as a blessing for Dean Smith.