Aston Villa star makes 'good and bad' point over international break

Wednesday’s Champions League win over Club Brugge was Villa’s last match until they travel to Preston for an FA Cup quarter-final on March 30.

Unai Emery’s team have endured a relentless schedule, playing 17 matches already in 2024, many while coping with a lengthy injury list.

But the break has coincided with their most consistent run of form since the early weeks of the campaign, having won five of their last six matches in all competitions.

Scotland international McGinn is one of several players now preparing to head off on national team duty, while the rest of the squad head to Dubai next week for a warm weather training camp.

The skipper said: "Probably the break comes at a nice time and a bad time. A nice time because we can get everyone back fit and firing. 

"Anyone that's not away at the internationals goes to Dubai, gets a bit of training, gets some fitness. 

“Do I need a breather? A wee bit, aye. I'm quite looking forward to a few days away.” 

Emery granted his players the rest of the week off after sealing a 6-1 aggregate victory over Club Brugge and setting up a Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain.

Villa are without a fixture this weekend due to Liverpool’s involvement in the Carabao Cup final, their Premier League match against the Reds ending in a 2-2 draw having been brought forward in the calendar and played last month.

That was around the time Villa’s injury troubles were at their most severe but Emery has been boosted since by the returns to fitness of Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and Pau Torres, the latter having made his first appearance since December late on against Brugge.

Ross Barkley is now the only senior player sidelined as he continues to battle a calf issue. Fellow midfielder Onana has not been included in Belgium’s squad having not yet played since his own return from injury, while Marco Asensio has also missed out on selection by Spain.

The Cup tie with Preston, where Villa will be aiming to reach their first FA Cup semi-final in a decade, begins another hectic run of fixtures which includes the Champions League dates with PSG.

But McGinn said: "Would you change it for the world? Absolutely not. 

"I'm competing in the latter stages of the FA Cup and we're in with a shout for many positions in the Premier League, which we know we need to improve on in the last eight of the Champions League. 

"So keep the games coming, but I will use this break in the next few days to get the niggles away.” 

Ian Maatsen, who scored his first Villa goal in the second leg against Club Brugge, has been called up to the Netherlands under-21 squad along with Lamare Bogarde. The latter, a product of Villa’s academy, has played in both defence and midfield during his first full campaign in the Premier League.