McGinn Reflects on Miller's Bold Claim and Scotland's Rising Stars

John McGinn, the seasoned captain of Aston Villa, recently shared his thoughts on Lennon Miller's audacious claim that he could soon become Scotland's best player. McGinn, recalling his own early days with the national team, empathized with the young Motherwell midfielder's situation.

Miller's Bold Statement When 18-year-old Lennon Miller received his first call-up to the Scotland squad for the Nations League play-offs against Greece, he didn't shy away from expressing his ambitions. "I'm obviously not going to go in and be the best player there, but I believe I could maybe in a couple of months be the best player there," Miller said. This statement caught the attention of many, including Scotland's assistant coach John Carver, who suggested that the young player might need some guidance.

McGinn's Perspective McGinn, now 30, remembers making similar bold statements during his early career. "He's probably thinking - why did I say that? But I said plenty of stupid things when I was coming through at St Mirren," McGinn said. He also recalled the criticism he faced when he was first called up to the national team at 21 while playing in Scotland's second tier with Hibernian.

Challenges and Growth McGinn's first training session with the national team was nerve-wracking, with experienced players like Shaun Maloney challenging him. "I remember going back to my room and thinking to myself, 'I can't compete at this level, they are too good,'" McGinn shared. However, he emphasized that with time and experience, players grow more comfortable and start to express themselves better.

Support from the Team Despite the initial challenges, McGinn found support from his teammates, particularly Scott Brown, who offered wisdom and encouragement. "Little nuggets of wisdom during the game, support before the game, and you start to feel at home," McGinn noted. He played the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 friendly victory over Denmark on his debut and was named man of the match.

Looking Ahead McGinn is now looking forward to playing alongside confident young players like Miller and Heart of Midlothian striker James Wilson. "They are not here to make the numbers up," McGinn said. "They are here to take our places if they, eventually, are better than the ones who are here. He definitely has the ability to do so and so does James."

Scotland's upcoming Nations League play-off against Greece will be a crucial test for both the experienced and the new players. With McGinn's support and guidance, young talents like Miller and Wilson have the potential to shine on the international stage.