Former Aston Villa captain Andy Townsend has backed John McGinn and Ollie Watkins to shine at the World Cup this summer for their respective nations.
McGinn, Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers will all feature at their first World Cup this summer, while Matty Cash and Emi Martinez will be appearing in their second after playing in Qatar in 2022. Lucas Digne and Victor Lindelof will represent France and Sweden respectively, while Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans will play for Belgium in the United States as well.
Fresh from winning the Europa League, each Villa player who has linked up with his national team will do so with a spring in his step. McGinn, captain of Unai Emery’s Europa League champions, will face Brazil, Haiti and Morocco in the group stage as Scotland aim to secure qualification for the knockout rounds.
Townsend on McGinn
“He's been outstanding, John. He's been man-managed really well by Unai Emery, in lots of games, we'd get to the 70th minute, he'd make a change, and it might be John coming off,” Townsend told OLBG. “You don't always do that with skippers, leaders aren't always people that you'd be looking to get off the field with twenty minutes to go in a tight game, but Unai always looked after him in that respect. I think because he realised how important he is.
“Certainly everyone at Villa, everyone recognises how good he is. I know the supporters do. But I would think any opponent playing against him knows he understands the game, he's clever, he can play anywhere across the four. He can play in the middle, he can play off either side and he will always apply himself as best he can.
“What I like about John, it's his team first, and then it's him. You know, that's how he views things, that's how he sees things, always doing what's right, what's gotta be done for the team. And then any personal stuff, accolades that come his way, well, great. If they don't, they don't. And I like that out of a responsible skipper. He's all of that.
“He's got ability. And I don't think anyone will underestimate his capabilities. He scored some really big goals for Villa at the back end of the season, particularly in the Europa League. Scored some big goals on those nights. Some big ones in the league matches too. And I think that John will go in, rather than as an underrated player, I think as a hugely respected one. He could be the key figure for Scotland at this World Cup, I’m looking forward to seeing him in action.”
Townsend on Watkins
Watkins, meanwhile, is set to play as backup to Harry Kane in the England squad this summer. However, after helping send the Three Lions to the Euro 2024 final, Andy Townsend believes the Villa forward can play a similarly key role in America.
“I don't see England winning it without Harry Kane. I think Kane goes into the tournament as the best striker in the world, so to lose that would be devastating for England,” he added. “What I really admire about Ollie Watkins is that at the time when he was left out of the squad and his goals had dried up, he was having a bit of a tough time and he's had those periods this season.
“He never whinged or moaned about it. He wouldn't have been happy at all, but he never let that affect him. He just kept his head down, trusted that the goals would return, trusted his game, and just got on with it. I like that. Too many players come out on social media now, or their mums and other people come out, do me a favour and just keep your gobs shut.
“Get on with your game, keep your head down, and be a decent pro. It might just come back for you, and that's exactly what's happened. His goals towards the end of the season for Villa were terrific. His performance and confidence levels obviously grew because of that and now he finds himself going. Good luck to him, he deserves it because others would have moaned about it.
“He just kept going, trusted himself, and showed Thomas Tuchel that he can be a proper player, like he did in Qatar when he came off the bench and scored that big goal for England. I don't see him starting, of course, but if there's 15 minutes to go and England need a goal, he just keeps going. I'd back him over any of the others they've got out there to go on and make a difference.”
