Dropping John McGinn is inconceivable as the 'Meatball' remains one of three main World Cup ingredients, according to his former St Mirren boss Danny Lennon. Lennon, who handed the Aston Villa star his senior debut in 2012, believes Steve Clarke must start the midfielder in Scotland's World Cup opener against Haiti.
From Meatball to Main Ingredient
Lennon recalls the 17-year-old McGinn, nicknamed 'Meatball' for his appearance, as a player who simply could not be kept out of the first team. Now, 14 years later, he sees the 31-year-old as indispensable for Scotland's World Cup campaign.
Lennon told Record Sport: "It became impossible to halt his progression. My remit at St Mirren was to bridge the gap between the academy and the first team. Very quickly, it became apparent that John was one who could go far."
Unlike other youngsters, McGinn never returned to the academy after training with the senior squad. Lennon added: "After John came over to the first team, he never went back. He was accepted straight away. Steven Thompson and Gary Teale might have thought, 'Who is this wee scrawny guy that looks like a meatball?' But he got stuck in."
Silverware and Success
McGinn helped St Mirren win the League Cup in 2013, then moved to Hibs, where he ended a 114-year Scottish Cup drought. Since joining Aston Villa in 2018, he has secured Premier League promotion and won the Europa League with Unai Emery's side.
Despite suggestions McGinn might not start against Haiti after Scotland's 4-0 win over Bolivia, where he was an unused substitute, Lennon is adamant: "I'll bet my bottom dollar that John McGinn will be in that starting lineup in Boston."
Lennon believes Clarke used the Bolivia game to test options, but the team is built around key players: "For me, Steve's team is built round about the likes of John McGinn, Scott McTominay, and Andy Robertson. Those three lads are the stick-on starters."
