John McGinn's iconic 'goggles' celebration explained as Aston Villa star reveals touching reason

Free-scoring John McGinn revealed his now-famous 'goggles' celebration started as a nod to his nephew - but now it's here to stay.

The Aston Villa star is a regular on the scoresheet for club and country these days having netted four under Unai Emery this season and five for Scotland over the last 18 months. He scored in the 3-0 win over Cyprus that ultimately proved enough to send us to Euro 2024, and celebrated with his trademark pose, turning his hands upside down and fashioning them into a pair of specs.

It's a sight Scotland and Villa fans are fast becoming used to and he says he started doing it in the build-up to Euro 2020 - and planned to debut it at the tournament, but didn't find the back of the net. He's had plenty of chances to dust it off since though and he says it was a nod to his nephew, who struggles with his eyesight and has to wear goggles on the pitch.

He said: "It was supposed to be for Euro 2020! My nephew has poor eyesight and has to wear goggles to play football so I decided it would give him a bit of support to put the goggles on when I score.

"Now he’s happy and his team-mates up in Scotland carry on the celebration. A lot of children I played with when I was younger had to wear the goggles and when you’re younger it’s difficult and you feel socially out of it.

"It’s just a wee nod to Jack and now it’s stuck. Hopefully if I’m scoring I’m getting the goggles out and keep doing it."