When you are as competitive as John McGinn then friendly games aren’t really in your nature. But the Scotland star was accused of overstepping the mark in a pre-season bounce game for Aston Villa against Leeds United in Australia.
McGinn lunged in on Elland Road starlet Archie Gray during a 1-0 victory for Steven Gerrard’s side in Brisbane which resulted in the rising star - whose grandfather and great uncle are Scotland and Leeds legends Frank and Eddie - being stretchered off.
Leeds United fans reacted with fury on social media over the challenge and McGinn mistakenly thought Elland Road gaffer Jesse Marsch was also having a go at him from the touchline during the match was one by a penalty from Danny Ings. But the American later said: “I was yelling at the ref and he thought I was yelling at him. If the game is controlled it maybe doesn't lead to the aggressiveness. It's normal.
“We're hopeful that it's not too bad. He was in some pain initially but we're hopeful nothing is broken. Hopefully it's an ankle sprain and we'll see the severity of it in the next couple of days.”
Former Rangers boss Gerrard said of the incident: "We wish the young kid very well Hopefully it's not a long injury. John's got the ball, he's been unlucky in the follow through. There was one just before by the same boy on (Emiliano) Buendia and my heart was in my mouth.
"In the main it was played in the right way. It got feisty for a short period, there were a few feisty tackles from them, couple from us. You've got two Premier League teams who want to win a game. Both sets want to win even though it's a friendly. It's normal.”
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