View: Aston Villa star about to hit legend status as new milestone set to be hit within days

John McGinn will enter an exclusive list of Aston Villa legends if he makes an appearance in Thursday’s Europa League clash.

Villa will take on Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park, in a game that has been surrounded by widespread controversy on 6 November.

Maccabi Tel Aviv fans have been banned from attending Villa Park, with West Midlands Police announcing the decision in October.

McGinn signed a new contract at Villa in October, and for him, Thursday will be memorable for a different reason.

John McGinn could make his 300th Aston Villa appearance

Villa are the favourites to beat Maccabi Tel Aviv, with Unai Emery‘s side hoping to focus on their football amid the controversy.

The Villans come into the game on the back of a disappointing loss to Liverpool on Saturday, with Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch scoring to hand Villa their first Premier League loss since August.

And Villa are in need to get back to winning ways in the Europa League, too, after losing to Go Ahead Eagles in their last fixture in the competition.

The night will be a special one for McGinn, who is set to join an exclusive list of Villa players to have made 300 appearances for the club if he features.

Just 35 players before the Scot have reached the milestone, according to AVFCStatto, and he could well soar past several big names in the coming years.

• Read more: John McGinn’s best moments for Aston Villa as captain closes in on new contract agreement

McGinn among the Villa greats

McGinn signed for Villa in 2018 as a 23-year-old who had spent all of his career up to that point in Scotland.

The Scot’s arrival coincided with V Sports‘ (previously known as NSWE Group) takeover of the club, which saw Nassef Sawiris take charge at Villa Park.

The Villans were promoted from the Championship in McGinn’s first season, with the midfielder scoring in the play-off final, and Villa have never looked back.

Dean Smith, Steven Gerrard, and now Emery have all overseen Villa’s Premier League journey, and all three have always stuck by McGinn.

The 31-year-old was key as his team survived relegation, he was key as they returned to the Champions League, and he will be key as Emery’s side looks to win a first trophy since 1996.

McGinn will be rightfully honoured for his contribution on Thursday, but the Scot’s Villa journey is not over yet.

Legend status is days away.

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