Express & Star

John McGinn promises "much better to come" despite fine start to life at Aston Villa

John McGinn believes Villa supporters have still seen nowhere near the best of him despite continuing his impressive start to life in the Championship.

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The Scotland international was again the standout performer for Steve Bruce’s team during Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Ipswich, providing the cross from which Jonathan Kodjia scored his first goal in nearly 11 months.

Midfielder McGinn has now provided two assists in two games since his £2.75million move from Hibernian earlier this month and appears well on course to becoming a crowd favourite.

But the 23-year-old insists there is still major room for improvement.

“I feel as if I started OK but everyone at the club has not seen the best of me yet,” he said. “I still feel there has been a roughness to my play the last couple of games and there is a lot better to come.

“I’m pleased with things so far but I want to help the team and make my own game better.”

He continued: “It will come. This is a different style of football for me, a different league, a different challenge.

“I feel like I am stepping up a level so there is still a bit of getting used to that and the players I am playing with. It is coming. I can feel it. Hopefully people will see the best of me soon.”

McGinn admitted Villa must collectively raise their game after dropping points for the first time this season at Portman Road, despite playing the majority of the game against ten men when Ipswich’s Tayo Edun was sent-off in the first-half.

The home side had earlier equalised through Trevoh Chalobah following a mistake by Villa goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.

Bruce’s men now host Brentford on Wednesday and McGinn said: “Everyone is up for the battle and wants to prove they can be the team to go up.

“We have no divine right, being Aston Villa, to go up. Saturday proved that.

“Starting Wednesday we know we need to be at it a bit more. Hopefully we can do that.”