John Hartson shares brilliant Celtic-related message he sent Aston Villa’s John McGinn 

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Celtic’s final Champions League game of this newly-formed group phase is going to attract more eyes than usual.

The simple reason is that it will be the first meeting between two former European champions – Celtic and Aston Villa.

The man wearing the captain’s armband for Villa is boyhood Celtic fan John McGinn.

Unai Emery’s side currently occupy the final play-off spot in the current Champions League standings, but Brendan Rodgers and his players are only two points behind.

Either way, you are hoping McGinn is fit to face Celtic when they travel down to the Midlands on January 29 because it is going to be some occasion.

Whilst discussing that fixture, amongst the current Scotland matches, along with John’s older brother Stephen McGinn, John Hartson brought up an interesting message he recently sent the Villa man.

John Hartson tells John McGinn ‘sorry, I am not Henrik Larsson’

McGinn has openly spoken about Henrik Larsson being his Celtic hero and it isn’t a surprise given that he dominated during a period when he was growing up in Scotland.

But one interesting thing McGinn previously put out there is that he would love a happy birthday message from the King of Kings himself.

Hartson shared that, last month, when the Villa midfielder was celebrating his 30th birthday, he sent him a message, wishing him well, but also jokingly told him ‘Sorry, I am not Henrik Larsson’.

But Stephen interestingly revealed that the birthday message John wanted from Larsson, well, he finally got it, as he told Go Radio.

McGinn’s older brother shared: “He was gutted to miss the first international break. It was the first camp he had missed in a long, long time. He is delighted to be back in. He has come back from his hamstring injury. It has been such a busy schedule with Aston Villa.”

And then Hartson added: “Did he tell you, I sent him a birthday message, a private message? I said ‘look sorry, it’s not Henrik Larsson, but I just want to wish you happy birthday’ and he said ‘Cheers, John’. I sent him a private message. I think he was gutted it was me and not Henrik.”

Stephen then revealed: “John was one of his heroes. (But), he ended up getting one from Henrik. Paul (younger brother) sorted it out. He was delighted with both.”

Larsson’s career at Celtic

When you have players like Hartson and Chris Sutton on your books, yet you can stand tall above them in the pressure cooker of Celtic, then it’s some going.

Larsson did that under the legendary Martin O’Neill and there hasn’t been a greater team in the modern era.

Yes, the Celtic side in Brendan Rodgers’ first spell deserves respect and comes in next, but you also have to factor in the competition, at the time.

Either way, Larsson’s career in Glasgow saw him win the European Golden Boot, four league titles and four more domestic trophies. All whilst banging in the ridiculous amount of 220 goals, as posted by Transfermarkt.