The midfielder of Scotland, John McGinn, insisted that the ascent star Lennon Miller could regret saying that he could become the best player in his country, but threw the glove to the Motherwell pattern to support his words.
John Carver, Steve Clarke's assistant coach, had already slapped the 18 -year -old who, after receiving the first call to Scotland's senior team, said: “Obviously I will not enter and be the best player there, but I think it may be the best player there.”
Carver said the comment was a “mistake” and showed that Miller needed “a little guidance.”
McGinn added: 'I probably be thinking, why did I say that? But I said many stupid things when I was coming to St Mirren.
However, McGinn backed Lennon and his teenage partner James Wilson to cause an impression before the double header of the League of Nations with Greece this week.
“They are not here to make the numbers,” he said. 'They are here to take our places if, eventually, they are better than those here. He definitely has the ability to do so and also James.
Lennon Miller celebrated his call from Scotland last week after his excellent form this season
Miller has trained with characters like Aston midfielder Villa John McGinn
McGinn broke into the team of Scotland nine years ago when I was with St Mirren
McGinn also recalled the pressure and discomfort he felt when he was seen as a humble Scottish championship player when he first broke into the team nine years ago.
The 30 -year -old made his debut against Denmark in March 2016, but his early participation with the national team was not universally welcome, since he was in the middle of a two -year spell of playing at the second unnoticed level of his country with Hibernian.
The former International of Scotland, Charlie Adam, playing in the Premier League with Stoke at that time, gave several interviews throughout 2016 asking why other less established midfielders were selected ahead by the then manager Gordon Strachan, with McGinn inadvertently a goal of his frustration.
Adam, who won his last limit in 2015, was summoned by saying: “Scotland looks adequate to go with players who play in the championship in Scotland about the players who play in the Premier League.”
While McGinn prepared for the Play-Off match match of the Thursday's League against Greece in Piraeus, “I remember that Charlie Adam did an interview on my first day from Stoke's training field asking why they were called Scottish championship players, which was not too useful at that time.”
“It was my first lunch in Mar Hall, I remember it, and all the experienced children were doing me the most, saying:” Look, you should not be in the squad. “So my session 30 minutes later was not great, it was stressful.
McGinn is now an experienced Premier League operator with Villa, preparing for a quarter of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain next month and one of the most important members of the Steve Clarke team with 73 caps and 20 goals to his name.
The former St Mirren midfielder is still as humble as ever, but it takes a great pride 'to demonstrate that his skeptics are wrong and ascending to prominence.
“I don't think Charlie has meant individually or personally at that time, only the moment was a disaster,” McGinn said about Adam's comments. 'I remember gone to lunch a little nervous.
'But you always have that people try to demonstrate that they are wrong and you have to show people who have a little faith in you that you deserve to be there and the decision is justified. And I think, over time, I managed to show that.
I think we are very fast in Scotland. As soon as a Scotland squad comes out, and that is something that has not changed in the last 15 years, go: “Why is it on it? Should be in it.” It becomes a bit exhausting instead of people only supporting children who are selected and everything that is together in that.
'But certainly, at that time, there was a lot of pressure on me and I felt it a bit. But I remember the first game next to Bronie (Scott Brown), small pepitas of wisdom during the game, support before the game and start feeling at home.
“It was a massive jump in my career at that time, but it shows anyone now in the Scottish championship, and I hope that if that arises again, which is a possibility, that there is not the same pressure pressed.”