John McGinn feared his World Cup dream was over after a knee injury in January. The Aston Villa midfielder recalls the moment he blocked a pass against Everton, immediately knowing something was wrong. 'I was petrified,' McGinn admits, describing how he feared a serious knee injury that could have sidelined him for months.

After initial optimism about playing through the pain, swelling forced McGinn to undergo surgery. The 31-year-old midfielder returned in six weeks, just in time for Villa's crucial run-in. In his absence, Villa won only once in seven games, but have since won three of four matches since his return. McGinn has scored in their last two victories.

McGinn sees parallels between Villa's resurgence and Scotland's international progress. Since his debut in 2016, Scotland has qualified for back-to-back major tournaments, with McGinn playing a central role. The midfielder credits the experienced leadership group, including Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay, for Scotland's steady improvement despite competing against bigger nations with more resources.