John McGinn explains why he was more starstruck by John Terry than Steven Gerrard and admits Aston Villa dressing room ‘fortunate’ to learn from Chelsea and Liverpool legends

Not many players receive the honour of being coached by two of the greatest players in Premier League history, but Aston Villa star John McGinn is one of them.

The Scotland international revealed how he was more ‘in awe’ to be coached by Chelsea legend John Terry compared to Steven Gerrard, but added how vital the Liverpool icon has been in his development as a central midfielder.

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Speaking to talkSPORT, the Villa vice-captain admitted that Terry’s presence was more special having just signed from Scottish outfit, Hibernian.

While he is also cherishing playing under Gerrard and his assistant Gary McAllister, McGinn had to quickly adapt from watching these legends on television to being taught by them on the training pitch.

“When John Terry was appointed as a coach, I was sort of more in awe at that time [compared to when Gerrard was hired] just because I had just come from Hibs and I’ve just seen these guys on Premier League Years and programmes like this,” the 27-year-old said.

“I think you need to get the right balance of, that’s who you’re going to be working alongside, so you kind of need to forget it quite quickly.

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“But it is amazing, I grew up watching players like John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Gary McAllister and then you’re get the chance to work with them on a one-on-one basis.

“It was obviously a bit of that, the careers they’ve had is incredible and it’s just, I’m the fortunate one.

“All of us in the dressing room are the fortunate ones to be learning off them.”

Being a midfielder especially, McGinn has profited highly from Gerrard’s arrival and has heaped praise on him and McAllister.

“He’s been really good, I think I managed to meet him a couple of times just before he was appointed and [on a] different occasion up the road [in Scotland],” he added.

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“Obviously I wasn’t wishing him or his staff well [due to the rivalry between Hibs and Rangers] when he was up there, and we’ve had a wee bit of banter back and forth about that.

“But what he is, is a top class manager, very honest and very fair and what we do have in common, we’ve obviously had very different paths in football, but what we both have in common is we both play, or played in midfield, and we both want to win.

“So its an easy relationship from there, and I’m just trying to learn from him and Gary McAllister as well, two top midfielders, and trying to improve as a player.

“I’ve still got a lot to learn and we’re working closely together to try and get the best for the club and for myself.”