Can John McGinn Rediscover His Best Form for Scotland?

What continues to motivate him? His response comes immediately. “I still remember the pride and emotion I experienced on my debut against Denmark in 2016. That feeling keeps me moving forward. Whenever you are selected to represent your country, you cannot be certain another opportunity will come, so you must appreciate every appearance.”

“Tomorrow night could potentially be the final occasion. You simply never know when your last selection might arrive.”

McGinn already holds a celebrated place in the histories of St Mirren and Hibs, but his achievements at Villa have elevated him even further. He is firmly regarded as one of the club’s great figures, and supporters speak about him with admiration that is easy to understand.

More than almost anyone else, McGinn helped Villa escape the Championship in 2019 and avoid relegation from the Premier League in 2020. He then contributed as they progressed from 17th place to 11th, 14th, seventh and eventually fourth in the English top division. He helped secure Champions League football, captained the team to a European trophy last season while also scoring, and established a new club record for goals in European competition.

McGinn was also among those who remained loyal to the club, unlike Jack Grealish, Douglas Luiz, Ollie Watkins, Emi Martinez and Youri Tielemans.

Some regard him as Villa’s finest captain since Dennis Mortimer. Considering Mortimer led the famous team that won the league in 1981 and the European Cup in 1982, that is exceptional praise.

During a recent conversation among Villa supporters about what defines a club legend, qualities such as humility, commitment, resilience, leadership, loyalty and achievement were highlighted. One devoted fan observed that many players from recent decades possessed several of those traits, but very few embodied every one of them. McGinn, the supporter argued, does exactly that.

One admirer described him as clearly superior to every other Villa player of this century and worthy of ranking above several renowned names from the previous era. Another imagined his young son one day asking what it had been like to watch John McGinn play.

With years of experience behind him, praise and criticism no longer affect him as strongly. “When I was younger, I would immediately check Instagram or Twitter,” he explained. “People are free to express their views, but ultimately you have to remain focused and continue putting in the effort.”

“When you endure a period without results or your performances fall below expectations, you have to rely on your own confidence. I believe I possess that belief. Experience teaches you to handle difficult periods more effectively, although the disappointments can feel more severe.”

“Defeats hurt more while victories do not always feel quite as exhilarating, but age certainly helps you respond with greater composure. As a young player, setbacks can dominate your thoughts and make you push too hard to escape a challenging phase. I now feel better equipped to navigate those situations.”

“As the years pass, you sometimes wonder whether you can continue at the same level. At the same time, that makes the positive occasions even more rewarding. After a match like the one against Switzerland, would you switch on the television or listen to radio coverage? Certainly not. But if Scotland had won 3-0, I would not pretend that I would avoid hearing some of the reaction.”

The possibility of matching Robertson’s achievement provides powerful motivation. Following the North Macedonia match, McGinn needs eight more appearances.

Supporters will hope there are still many memorable celebrations ahead. McGinn may currently be experiencing a quieter spell at international level compared with the defining moments of previous seasons, but few believe his decisive contributions are over. Among the tartan-wearing supporters in Teresa, confidence in him appears to remain strong.