John McGinn is a major injury sweat for Aston Villa’s UEFA Champions League clash with Celtic in a few weeks.
The midfielder was subbed off just 19 minutes into Villa’s Premier League match against Leicester City yesterday afternoon, sparking several concerns among supporters.
The Birmingham side won 2-1, with manager Unai Emery confirming the extent of his captain’s injury post-match.
Concerningly, the Spaniard outlined how it may be a hamstring issue and that McGinn could spend over a month on the sidelines: “I think it could be hamstring,” he said (AVillafan.com).
“He could be out for two, three, four, five weeks.”
If McGinn’s injury is as bad as feared and he spends four or even five weeks out, he will definitely miss Villa’s game against Celtic.
The Bhoys travel south to face Emery’s side on January 29, three and a half weeks away, so the Scotland midfielder will likely be in a major sweat to be fit.
Missing the chance to play against the club he supported growing up will be a blow, but perhaps Brendan Rodgers will be glad McGinn is out: the now 30-year-old scored a double at Parkhead for Hibs against his Celtic side in a 2-2 draw in 2017.
The Irishman would likely accept a similar result at Villa Park, although Rodgers will hope his side travel to England needing nothing. Defeat Young Boys in Glasgow in just over a fortnight, and that will be the case, with three points likely enough to send the Celts into the knockout rounds of the Champions League with a league phase matchday to spare.
