Credit: Imago

Harri Burton

Fri 10 April 2026 18:00, UK

Follow us on Google Discover

John McGinn simply has to play against Nottingham Forest as Aston Villa push for Champions League qualification.

The Scotland international has seven goals and three assists across all competitions this season, with two of his involvements coming in the most recent back-to-back games against Lille and West Ham.

Unai Emery has dropped the attacking midfielder during the second half of the campaign, with Morgan Rogers, Emi Buendia and Jadon Sancho all capable of filling his position.

However, when Villa travel to the City Ground to face Forest on Sunday, 12 April, McGinn must be one of the first names on the teamsheet if Emery is to secure Champions League football at Villa Park.

John McGinn will give Nottingham Forest nightmares

McGinn should be relatively well-rested after only playing 20 minutes against the Ivory Coast in Scotland’s second friendly, so Emery will have no trouble throwing him into the lineup.

That will be far from positive news for Vitor Pereira and his players, with the 31-year-old having an impressive record when it comes to the Tricky Trees over the years.

In nine matches against the Reds, McGinn has been on the winning side five times, with two draws and two losses, notching four goals and two assists in those meetings.

He also only has a single caution in those nine games, meaning that Emery is unlikely to be forced into hooking him early, so all signs point towards three points returning to Villa Park.

Aston Villa have huge ambitions ahead of the summer window

Champions League qualification is a must for the Villans this season, and with fifth-place Liverpool still five points behind, there is no reason why Emery and his team can’t dream big.

Villa are interested in Everton’s James Garner, which would already be a huge move this summer, not to mention all the other big-name transfers possibly coming to Villa Park.

Multiple positions could be addressed, not least of all the striker spot, with Ollie Watkins struggling to hit the back of the net this season and Tammy Abraham yet to find his feet.

The Villans are still missing the unique factor that Jhon Duran brought to the forward line, but success in Europe would help bring some much bigger names to the Midlands next season.