The Scottish set-piece guru plotting Portugal’s World Cup glory

MacPhee joined Roberto Martinez’s Portugal staff in February last year, five months after reluctantly stepping down from his role with Scotland to look after his ill father.

It is his five years at Villa Park that have undoubtedly brought him his greatest success, though.

Villa scored more goals from set-pieces than any other side in Europe’s top five leagues in 2023-24.

The following season, only four clubs in those five divisions bettered their tally. In the most recent campaign, they were level with Arsenal for the most set-piece goals.

MacPhee has achieved those staggering results through years of experience and meticulous preparation.

Hours are spent on the training pitch and in analysis suites, and players are given homework in the form of animations and graphics sent to their phones.

Amid the Europa League celebrations in Istanbul, Emery said: “We work on everything so hard and everything makes sense.

“Congratulations to Austin too, he’s very good at his job and we work very closely. He has so much experience and we know exactly what we are doing.”

With a last-16 tie against Spain to come on Monday in Dallas (20:00 BST) – live on the BBC – a long-haired lad from Kirkcaldy might just prove to be Portugal’s lethal weapon at this World Cup.

Not sure that has ever been said before, or will be said again.