Man Utd legend pulls no punches with verdict on 86-cap star
Roy Keane has angered Scotland fans with comments made about talisman John McGinn on the eve of the World Cup.
The former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder described the Aston Villa man as performing like a "pub player" whenever his performance levels dip.
McGinn captained Villa to the Europa League trophy last month and to a commendable fourth-placed finish in the Premier League. He scored 10 goals and provided eight assists in 44 appearances across the season.
John McGinn celebrates winning the Europa League with Aston Villa last month in Leipzig.placeholder image
John McGinn celebrates winning the Europa League with Aston Villa last month in Leipzig. | Getty Images
He has earned 86 caps for Scotland, contributing 20 international goals and 10 assists, and was a pivotal member of the squad that has qualified for a first World Cup in 28 years after reaching back-to-back European Championships.
Keane, however, has not always been impressed by the 31-year-old former Hibs and St Mirren midfielder.
Speaking on The Overlap podcast, the United legend said of McGinn: "He's done brilliant. But when he has his bad days, he looks like a pub player. When he's off, he looks shocking. If you watch him long enough, and when he's in the team week in, week out, you go, well if all these managers like him... but when he's bad, wow."
Roy Keaneplaceholder image
Roy Keane
Keane balanced the criticism by adding: "You'd have him in your group, absolutely, and it's no surprise Villa are doing well and he's at the forefront of that."
The remarks, which have sparked criticism of Keane online from both the Tartan Army and Villa supporters, came after ex-Man Utd and Liverpool duo Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher had lavished praise on McGinn.
Neville stated: "I love John McGinn. I'd have John McGinn at United."
Carragher then added: "The thing I like about John McGinn, when you think of Unai Emery, the manager he is, and you watch Aston Villa, if I said to you what position does John McGinn play, he's a bit of midfield, a bit of this and that.
"He's always in the team. There's always options and maybe he's out injured, but he comes straight back into the team. Unai Emery has got different players, ball players between the lines, sometimes a winger, but he always finds a place for John McGinn.
"I watched Scotland in a friendly at Everton's ground a few months ago. He came off the bench and changed the game. He looked a class above. He is a class above most of the Scotland players, he plays at a high level in the Premier League. I love watching him. I watched him against Liverpool last game of the season and he scored an unbelievable goal. But his backside, sticking his a**e into people. It's brilliant."