John McGinn vs Ruben Neves: Who did it better?

It would truly have to be one of the greatest strikes ever seen – on these shores at least – to better it.

McGinn’s goal as Villa lost 2-1 to Sheffield Wednesday was an undeniably special moment, in what was another disjointed display from Steve Bruce’s charges.

Wrapping his left foot around the ball, before watching it swerve back in towards goal and smack the underside of the crossbar on its way over the line past the utterly helpless Owls glovesman Cameron Dawson – it is an absolute joy to watch.

There is something so aesthetically pleasing when a scorcher rattles the woodwork before hitting the net.

It is one of those goals that never gets old and, you would like to think, will be a shoo-in on a ‘100 Great Goals’ DVD (if they are even still a thing).

If McGinn does not pick up the Championship goal of the season, it will be a travesty. Or at the very least, it would have to be the best goal seen in a generation that beats it.

And if you still have not yet seen McGinn’s strike, make sure you do.

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Villa fan account @WittonRoad tweeted a short clip of the stunner from a great angle – behind McGinn, putting into perspective just how well he caught it – and, at the time of writing, it had been retweeted 51,000 times and liked by 135,000 users. You simply do not see those sorts of goals every day, but a similar one did happen last year courtesy of Wolves ace Ruben Neves.

The Portuguese midfielder’s volley against Derby back in April was immense.

After almost overcooking the touch to set himself, Neves emphatically found the top corner from 30 yards.

So, it begs the question, which one was better?

Neves’s came in a 2-0 win just days before Wolves’ promotion to the Premier League was confirmed so certainly felt more important.

McGinn’s though had more power and left the goalkeeper absolutely dumbfounded so, by a hair’s breadth, the Villa man gets my nod.

But both are certainly up there in terms of the best long-rangers in this country over the past couple of decades – alongside Tony Yeboah’s wonderful effort for Leeds against Liverpool in 1995 and Paul Scholes’s for United at Villa in 2006, both of which clipped the bar on their way through.

Fair play to McGinn for how he has seamlessly adjusted to life at Villa Park – and outshone £40million-rated Jack Grealish so far this campaign.

While many fans are growing tired of the style of football under Bruce, the Scotland midfielder has been one of the few highlights with his willingness to drive forward and create chances.

Some might say he has been their sole bright spot over the past few weeks.

He is clearly a very gifted footballer and, having been snapped up for around £2.5m from Hibernian, seems a big coup for Villa.

You have to wonder why Celtic were so reluctant to meet Hibs’ asking price – having two bids knocked back and allowing Villa to swoop in and tie him down on a four-year deal.

Back over at Wolves, Joao Moutinho chipped in with a sweet left-footed finish of his own to grab a point at Manchester United.

Unlike McGinn’s rasper, this goal was one of pure finesse – picking his spot and executing the shot superbly.

Moutinho, and you have to say even more so than McGinn, is proving to be a bargain.

Although he may be 32 and arguably past his peak years, £5m is a steal for such a stylish player.

Moutinho effortlessly strokes the ball around the pitch, but just as impressive has been his high work rate.

There were fears from a few that Wolves’ midfield might have been too attack-minded, but Moutinho and Neves have defensive steel about them as well, as United found to their cost as they huffed and puffed by failed, by-and-large, to make any real headway against Nuno’s men.

Talking of United, what on earth has happened to Alexis Sanchez?

A year or so ago while with Arsenal, he was one of the Premier League’s top talents.

Now the Chilean is barely noticeable.

He was hauled off after an hour – the third game in a row he has been substituted.

So where has it all gone wrong?

Maybe United’s No.7 shirt, which has famously been graced by George Best, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, has become a curse.

After all, Memphis Depay and Angel Di Maria – the two players who had it before him – turned out to be downright flops too.