Emi Martinez to be next Aston Villa captain, John McGinn’s friend claims
Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez will be Unai Emery’s next captain at Villa Park if John McGinn leaves the Midlands club in the coming transfer window, according to Alan Hutton.
The Scotsman received the first red card of his Villa career as Emery’s side were thrashed 4-0 by Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham on Sunday (10 March) for a dangerously reckless tackle on Destiny Udogie in the second half.
McGinn’s sending-off sparked discussions around the Villa captaincy as Ezri Konsa was spotted telling the Scottish international that he had lost his head after an incredibly uncharacteristically rush of blood from the midfielder.
While some have suggested that Konsa is ready for a greater leadership role at Villa Park, former Villa defender, and friend of McGinn, Hutton has admitted that he expects Martinez to be the next player given the armband.
“The captain’s armband is going to go to Martinez in my opinion,” Hutton told Villa News.
“He’s going to be the next [Villa captain]. It is what it is, but you need more than one leader in the squad. Yes, he might wear the armband and do things behind the scenes, but when you’re on the pitch, you need two, three, four or five leaders on the pitch.
“He’s definitely one of them.”
Will Unai Emery strip John McGinn of the Aston Villa captaincy after red card v Tottenham?
McGinn lost his head against Tottenham and while he let Emery and his side down with that moment of madness on Sunday, he isn’t a dangerous player and he will never have set out to hurt Udogie with his challenge.
Hopefully, the Scotsman will take advantage of his suspension and get some much-needed rest as he has been an ever-present part of Emery’s side this season. As soon as he is available for selection, he will immediately return to the starting XI with the armband.
In the meantime, Villa will have to make do without their skipper at the heart of midfield and it seems almost certain that it will be Martinez who claims the armband for clashes with West Ham, Wolves and Manchester City.
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton has lifted the lid on what he keeps being asked following McGinn’s red card against Spurs
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