John McGinn says Celtic story 'winds me up' as Aston Villa skipper answers Parkhead transfer question

John McGinn admits he's sick and tired of hearing about his botched Celtic transfer. But the Aston Villa skipper refused to rule out a move to his boyhood heroes one day.

The Scotland hero, 30, was a key target for Brendan Rodgers in 2018 but ended up signing for Villa as Celts failed to strike a deal with Hibs. McGinn helped the Villains to Premier League promotion at the first time of asking and has starred in England's top-flight ever since. A fans' favourite, the 30-year-old was handed the captain's armband by ex-Rangers boss Steven Gerrard and is now set to lead out his teammates against Celtic in the Champions League next month.

Lifelong Hoops fan McGinn says it will be a strange feeling playing against his beloved club under the lights at Villa Park but confessed it grinds his gears when people mention the fact he could have been playing for the men in green-and-white.

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Asked by Scottish Football Social Club host Darrell Currie, McGinn replied: "Honestly, the stories about that whole saga have grown arms and legs even over the past few years, honestly it winds me up.

"What I was happy to hear was [former Dundee Utd chairman] Stephen Thompson did an interview last week that he admitted that he never signed me and signed Rodney Snyder instead. That was a tough moment in my career then.

"I told all my pals I was signing for Dundee United and I remember speaking to my agent and he said, yeah, it's close to being done. I phoned him the next day and he said, there's no answer on the phone. So they completely just went cold and the next day Rodney Snyder was announced and that's when I knew I wasn't signing for Dundee United.

"To answer that, you never know - I didn't really answer the question there."

McGinn comes from a Celtic-daft family and the midfielder has warned his loved ones they can't celebrate if the visitors score at Villa Park on January 29. He said: "It's going to be strange. Obviously a lot of my family and friends are wanting tickets but they're not to be trusted! I mean they'll send us a message, can you get us tickets? And I say, aye but you can't cheer a Celtic goal, and then I don't get a reply.

"I'm afraid I'm the home end, but though it'll be strange I'm obviously looking forward to it and hopefully we can get the win. Everyone keeps saying to me they hope both teams are qualified, which is a possibility. But I think when you've got an essential battle at Britain, as they call it, it's always going to be feisty.

"It seemed to take them some time to adapt when Ange Postecoglou left. They seem to have found that kind of same form they had when he was there, they're lightning quick on the break and they're just streets ahead of everyone in the league at the minute.

"Even when teams have their moments, if they don't capitalise on those moments, then they just punish you. So we'll have to certainly be at our best to beat them."