Listen: Do Scotland take McGinn for granted?

What the report says

BBC Sport Football’s Scottish Football Podcast episode focuses on John McGinn’s status in Scottish football and asks whether his achievements are fully appreciated. The programme frames the discussion around McGinn’s journey from St Mirren to becoming a Europa League winner and Aston Villa captain, with the club-side milestone described as part of his rise to a major European final stage. The episode also reflects on his role as a Scotland international and his standing as one of the national team’s key figures.

The podcast includes contributions from former Hibernian midfielder Scott Allan, who offers first-hand perspective on what McGinn is like as a teammate and opponent. Michael Grant also looks back at McGinn’s Scotland career and the personality that has helped make him a popular and influential presence in the game. The discussion touches on leadership, consistency and whether his contributions have sometimes been overlooked.

As presented by BBC Sport Football, the episode is less a breaking-news item than a retrospective on McGinn’s development and reputation. It also raises a broader question about Scottish football, including whether Celtic missed an opportunity by not signing him when he was at Hibs, and whether he could eventually captain Scotland as well. The episode was made available on 12 August 2026 and runs for 22 minutes.