The international break came at the right time for Aston Villa.
Unai Emery’s side had lost four in a row and the performances, for large parts, weren’t matching what the fans have been used to in recent times.
That’s why Aston Villa needed that reset to refresh and come back in a fortnight for what will be a gruelling winter period.
What hasn’t helped Emery is that several individual players haven’t been at it, either from the get-go or are just blowing hot and cold this season.
In truth, the Villa boss hasn’t turned a blind eye to that and he has previously made it clear that he will drop the big names if they don’t start performing.
And that’s exactly what happened in Villa’s defeat to Liverpool, with John McGinn sitting on the bench, but he has managed to bring some much-needed life into his game with Scotland.
Anthony Ralston hails ‘big player’ John McGinn after winning goal for Scotland against Croatia
Step aside Luke Modric because McGinn is in town.
Just like on the domestic circuit, McGinn was on the bench for Scotland’s crucial UEFA Nations League match against Croatia.
But rather than sulk, he came off the bench with less than half an hour left and scored a crucial goal for his country.
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