Scotland will face Denmark on Tuesday as part of Gordon Strachan’s warm up preparations for the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign and Hibs’ midfielder John McGinn has been selected for the squad for the first time.
McGinn is no stranger to international call ups being the current Under-21 captain and it was his performances in the dark blue of Scotland as well has the green and white of Hibernian that caught Strachan’s attention.
Despite a poor run of results which leaves Hibs in third place in the Championship, six points behind second placed Falkirk with three games in hand, McGinn has become a firm favourite with the supporters who have nicknamed him ‘Super’ John McGinn.
His goal in the League Cup semi-final victory over St Johnstone resulted in a trip to Hampden and he will return there next month for s Scottish cup semi-final against Dundee United.
Promotion back to the top flight is the club and McGinn’s priority however, but whatever happens in the next two months, McGinn can look back on his first season at Easter Road with pride.
McGinn told the club website: “Being involved in the Scotland squad is something that I have worked hard on and I’m delighted to get the opportunity and I am keen to show that it’s not a one-off. Hopefully I become a member of that squad.
“I would have liked the chance to be involved in both matches, but I’ve got the chance to play in the second match. It gives me a bit of time to look back on the season that’s happened and to get myself ready to go and impress.
“’I became aware that the manager (Gordon Strachan) was going to be coming to the under-21s and all the boys knew that it was a chance to show what we can do. Ricky Sbragia stressed to us that he would be coming to get an idea of our personalities and how we conducted ourselves in training.
“Thankfully I showed up well that week and I am glad that the manager seen enough of me that week to name me in that squad.
“It’s a massive confidence boost for me and it shows that I am doing something right, although next season I don’t want that (Championship player) branded beside me – I want to be playing in the Premiership with Hibs. That is something myself and all my other team-mates are determined to do”
“It’s been the best season of my career. To be playing in so many high pressure games and to get my first call-up to the Scotland squad is special, and I don’t want it to stop now.
“I don’t want to get into a comfort zone and just sit here and enjoy it all, I need to kick on again and keep improving – that’s what I’ll be doing.”
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
