Scotland boss Steve Clarke has been handed a massive boost after it emerged John McGinn could make his long-awaited comeback from injury next weekend.

McGinn, who has scored six goals in his last three international outings, has been sidelined since breaking his ankle against Southampton in December.

But the former Hibernian and St Mirren favourite is now back training with the Aston Villa first-team and on course for a return ahead of Scotland’s Euro 2020 play-off against Israel later this month.

Villa manager Dean Smith expects the 25-year-old’s recovery to progress quickly now he is back with his team-mates, and has revealed a run-out against Chelsea next Saturday is a possibility.

Smith said: “He’s nearer [a return], he’s trained with us. We’ve not had him in with contact as yet but he’s been involved in some possession sessions and some shape work as well.

“So, he’s certainly getting to where we want him to be.

“He’s had a CT scan to make sure there’s a full union of the fracture. But he feels really good, which is the important thing.

“He’ll be pushing me for Chelsea, that’s the way he is.

“I always said that once he gets on that training ground he’ll move quickly and he’s certainly progressing quickly now.”