Aston Villa ace John McGinn: I'm in the best form of my career

The Scot helped to create both goals as Dean Smith’s men triumphed 2-1 to claim their fifth win on the spin and climb to fifth in the Championship.

McGinn, who came close to scoring himself for the third straight game when he saw a shot tipped onto the post by visiting keeper David Raya, has proved a smash hit since signing in a £2.75million move from Hibernian last summer.

And he said: “I’m really enjoying my football and playing with a smile on my face.

“You are probably right. I am playing the best football of my career and hopefully I can keep on improving.

“I’m playing in a different advanced role this season. I’ve never played as high up the pitch as this before. I’m enjoying it. There is still a lot of improvement left in me.”

McGinn once more took the adulation of a packed out Villa Park and he added: “It’s an amazing feeling.

“You dream as a player of having fans chanting your name. All you want to do is first and foremost a job for the team but if you can entertain the people in the stands, and make then enjoy their day, then it helps.

“When you are on that park and you feel as loved as I do it’s also a benefit to me.”

England boss Gareth Southgate was in the stands to see Villa secure victory thanks to goals from Tammy Abraham and Tyrone Mings, with former Kidderminster man Amari’i Bell replying for the visitors.

McGinn, who bounced back from his own international disappointment with Scotland in Kazakhstan, believes Southgate’s presence should be a boost to his team-mates.

He said: “The list goes on – Tammy, Kortney (Hause), Jack (Grealish) and Tyrone. They are all capable at one stage of their career of playing in that England side.

“There is no better place in the Championship to go and prove that than at Aston Villa with pressure on you all the time and these boys are thriving on it.

“I’m not going to say too much about international football. It’s not been good for me of late! But it’s good to see the England manager coming to watch our boys.

“They should take great heart from that. I think we’re starting to get people take notice of us this season and deservedly so.”