John McGinn challenges Aston Villa ‘break the spell’ and claim silverware this season… with the Villans’ trophy drought stretching back to the League Cup in 1996

• McGinn claimed Aston Villa have three chances to end their drought this season 
• Unai Emery’s side are seen as one of the Europa Conference League favourites
• Chris Sutton tells all on the hardest day of his career – Listen to It’s All Kicking Off

John McGinn has challenged Aston Villa to end a run of nearly three decades without silverware by lifting a trophy this season.

Villa face AZ Alkmaar in the Europa Conference League on Thursday knowing a win will virtually seal their place in the knockout stages. But they are still some way from breaking a duck that has lasted since Brian Little’s team claimed the League Cup in 1996.

McGinn said: ‘We have three opportunities (Premier League, FA Cup and Conference League) to break that spell of Aston Villa teams not having any silverware.

‘It’s one we’re aspiring to be part of, hopefully at the end of the season we can be proud of something we’ve done and write our names in the history books.

‘Each player has their own ambitions and dreams. There’s still a lot of work to do but the ambition and goal is to lift a trophy at the end of the season.’

John McGinn challenged Aston Villa to win silverware this season and end a trophy drought

Aston Villa’s last trophy came under Brian Little when they lifted the League Cup in 1996

Unai Emery’s side are among the favourites to win the Europa Conference League this season

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Villa’s march up the Premier League table was halted last Sunday when Forest sent Unai Emery’s side to only their third defeat in the competition this season.

That result has left Emery uncertain who to pick for the Villa Park clash with Alkmaar, who Villa despatched 4-1 in Holland two weeks ago.

Though midfielder Jacob Ramsey will not be ready for this encounter, Emery is hopeful he will be close to returning by the end of the month.

Emery said: ‘After the international break I think he will be able more or less to train with his team-mates and try to be close to returning to the squad for matches.’

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