‘Really good’ Aston Villa star is being used in wrong role by Unai Emery, claims Dean Smith

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Aston Villa have finally turned their poor form around after a lacklustre start to the Premier League season.

Villa went four games without scoring in the top-flight, and that almost became five prior to Matty Cash’s long-range strike against Sunderland, ending their duck in front of goal.

Since then, the Villans have had two wins in all competitions, coming against Bologna in the Europa League in a 1-0 win, as well as a 3-1 win over Fulham in the league to get their win tally underway on domestic soil.

One player who has scored in both of those games is Scottish midfielder John McGinn, who continues to show time and time again that he is a key part of Aston Villa’s squad with vital moments. But former boss Dean Smith believes he is being utilised incorrectly by Unai Emery.

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Dean Smith claims John McGinn fits better as a number six at Aston Villa

McGinn joined Villa in August 2018 after some strong form at Scottish side Hibernian, becoming a first-team regular almost instantly in the West Midlands, and that vitality hasn’t slowed down despite playing under four different bosses.

The energetic central midfielder has cropped up with vital goals, a relentless pressing nature and a never-say-die attitude, encapsulating the rapid rise that Villa have endured from the Championship to the Champions League.

However, having been promoted under Smith, the English boss believes that the former Hibs star is being used incorrectly by Unai Emery, stating that he prefers him in the number six role, as opposed to the Spaniard using him out wide.

Speaking to The Athletic, Smith said: “With John McGinn, I like him as a number six.

“But Unai predominantly plays him on one of the sides, which allows him to pop into the pockets where he can go and create and press, because he’s really good at that.”

One aspect that McGinn can proudly claim is that wherever he has played for Villa, he has come up with the goods on their rise to the continental scene.

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John McGinn’s versatility is arguably his greatest trait at Aston Villa

John McGinn has been utilised in every midfield position since the start of his career.

According to Transfermarkt, he has played in 284 games as a central midfielder, which is his natural position.

However, the ex-St Mirren star has also played on the left side of midfield 111 times, as well as featuring on the right on 40 occasions, and in both attacking and defensive midfield scenarios 30 times each.

His versatility has allowed other Villa stars to shine, doing the dirty work so that their attacking contingent can punish teams, and he’s the definition of a manager’s dream.

One thing that is for certain is that Emery would be loath to let him go, amid reported interest from Everton in McGinn over the summer transfer window.