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Brazil given John McGinn warning as Aston Villa ace heads to World Cup

The Villa skipper has enjoyed a superb season.

Brazil have been told to beware Villa skipper John McGinn when they face Scotland at the World Cup.

The Group C fixture in Miami on June 24 is among the most eye-catching of the group stage with the Scots taking on the four-time champions having qualified for the finals for the first time since 1998.

Brazil will be favourites heading into the match but have been warned of Scotland’s quality by one of their own superstars, defender Thiago Silva.

And the ex-Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea hero reckons Villa’s McGinn is the danger man in Steve Clarke’s side.

"For me, the captain of Aston Villa, McGinn, is an amazing player," the 41-year-old told the BBC. "He plays inside the midfield, he plays on the wing sometimes. He has many qualities.

"I think the Brazil staff and Carlo Ancelotti, they will need to pay attention to this player.

"I think the match will be played at a good level."

Silva, who recently won the Portuguese title with Porto, has been capped 113 times by Brazil and had been hoping to feature in a fourth World Cup only to miss out on the final selection for Ancelotti’s squad.

McGinn will head out to the USA on the back of one of the best seasons of his career, having led Villa to a top-four Premier League finish and the club’s first trophy in 30 years.

The 31-year-old, capped 85 times by his country, scored 10 goals in all competitions for Unai Emery’s side.

Getting out of a group which also includes Haiti and Morocco will be the first objective for Scotland, after disappointing early exits in the last two European Championships.

Speaking earlier this year, McGinn said: “We’re so determined to go and try to achieve more.

“We have not done ourselves justice in the major tournaments but the journeys to get there can’t be forgotten and that is something we hold very strongly in the dressing room.”

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