John McGinn excited by 'new Aston Villa' after summer of change

John McGinn says he is excited by the “new Aston Villa” and warned rivals Unai Emery’s team have not yet peaked.

The glory of last season’s Europa League win has been followed by a summer of change, with the departure of three key players in Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne.

But McGinn is confident the club, who begin their season against Paris Saint-Germain in Wednesday’s European Super Cup, can keep climbing.

Asked if the summer exits had created the feeling of Villa being back at the bottom of a mountain, McGinn replied: “There has been a lot of change - but a lot has changed in the eight years I have been here.

“When we got promoted to the Premier League there was a lot of change in the summer.

“We have a structure in place. We have rules which have made us successful over the past few seasons.

“Our job is to integrate the new players and try to make them believe in the way players in the last few seasons have believed.

“I’m really excited by the new Aston Villa.”

New signings Joao Gomes and Alejandro Garnacho will feature against PSG though record signing Johan Manzambi is sidelined with a knee injury.

The absence of Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa and Emi Martinez - who have all been given extra time off by Emery following the World Cup - means Villa will be further depleted as they aim to win the Super Cup for the second time.

Asked where expectations should be heading into the new season, McGinn replied: “They should be similar to where it’s been in the last few seasons.

“We have competed with the best in English football. We have competed with the best in European football.

“There’s a lot of change but when you look at other clubs in England, there’s a lot of change. What we have still is our main core, same manager, same methods and same desire to achieve more. A lot thought we reached our ceiling a few seasons ago and we proved them wrong.

“As long as we have that hunger to achieve more, Aston Villa fans can expect as much as possible."

Boss Emery, aiming to win the Super Cup for the first time at the fourth attempt, acknowledged Wednesday’s match might not present his team at “their best”.

While PSG, at least nominally, have named their strongest available squad, Emery’s decision to take a long-term view and give Konsa, Watkins and Martinez extra rest means his options are limited.

The trio, who will now report back less than a week before the league season begins, all played for the duration of the World Cup.

Emery said: “They are not here because they finished the season on July 19 and I gave them four weeks to rest and it is completely necessary.

“Of course, if they were here, maybe we will have many more chances, but at the same time, I think PSG will be in same situation as us.

“We will prepare the game with players, even some young players, like we started with four weeks ago. Of course they are favourites.”