Unai Emery explains how John McGinn's goal will help Aston Villa skipper recover top form

McGinn scored for the first time since returning from knee surgery to set Villa on their way to a 2-0 second leg win and 3-0 victory on aggregate in the last-16 tie.

The 31-year-old spent nearly two months on the sidelines but is back for what will be a crucial run-in, with Villa also battling for a top-five finish in the Premier League.

Emery said of McGinn: "He needs minutes. Today he added minutes for him and the team. He’s getting fit again and he will be very important. 

“Today he played 70 minutes, progressively getting better. The first half he was recovering confidence, playing on the left side and feeling comfortable there.

“The second half, he scored a goal which is very good for him to feel better and of course, if we can recover a player like him, like Youri Tielemans and Matty Cash, we can perform better.”

McGinn’s goal was set-up by a brilliant pass from goalkeeper Emi Martinez to Jadon Sancho, who squared for the skipper to score nine minutes into the second half.

Villa, leading 1-0 after last week’s first leg, had struggled to make headway in attack until that moment.

Leon Bailey’s first goal in more than a year, with five minutes remaining, then killed the tie for good.

On Martinez’s pass, Emery said: “Emi Martinez is very important. 

“He can show our gameplan, playing short and being patient, or sometimes with the long ball like he did tonight.

“I remember against Brugge last year he did a long pass to Rashford which provoked the red card.

“With his passing he can help us, not only with saves, but playing with the ball.”