McGinn has seemingly re-energised a flagging side

Birmingham — Two months ago Aston Villa’s Champions League destiny looked secure. A double-digit lead over Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United felt like insurance against the inevitable spring surge from heavyweight rivals. Then the injuries struck. A midfield stripped of three senior operators exposed a summer recruitment plan that suddenly looked muddled, and Villa’s form flat-lined: one shot on target in several matches, nine points from the last 30 available, and a slide into the Premier League’s bottom-three form table.

Manchester United overtook them; Liverpool and Chelsea trimmed the gap to a single game’s swing. The cushion that once invited dreams of Europe’s elite competition appeared ready to evaporate.

Enter John McGinn. The captain’s return has coincided with a seven-day swing that has redrawn the landscape. First he drove Villa into the Europa League quarter-finals, then he spearheaded Sunday’s victory over West Ham. The conquest arrived as both Liverpool and Chelsea stumbled on the same weekend, restoring precious breathing space before the international break.

With Youri Tielemans also back in contention, the mood inside Bodymoor Heath has flipped from anxiety to renewed conviction. Fixtures remain against United, Liverpool and Chelsea, guaranteeing further dropped points among Villa’s competitors. The top-five race, momentarily slipping from their grasp, is again in their own hands.