Hibs’ midfielder John McGinn insists that it will take ‘something special’ for him to leave the club in the summer.
The Scotland international has one year left on his contract and most supporters expect the club to cash in on him at the end of the season, but McGinn loves playing for Hibs and would only consider leaving if it meant testing himself at a higher level.
He has played a significant part in the club’s rise from the Championship to touching distance of second place in the top flight with a memorable Scottish Cup victory during the journey and Neil Lennon recently valued him in excess of £5m.
Speaking after Saturday’s victory over champions in waiting Celtic at Easter Road, McGinn said: “The speculation has always been there since my first season here. I’ve always said the same thing. I’m learning and I’m loving playing in front of sellout crowds.
“I feel as if I am getting better all the time. At the same time though I’m ambitious. I want to go and test myself at a higher level, however it would have to be something better than Hibs. I don’t take it for granted here. I love it.
“I’m sure the rest of the boys are the same. I have a year left of my contract and it would have to be something special for me to leave.
“I know how good I’ve got it here. I love playing with the boys here and before such supporters. The fans know that I’ve never hidden the fact I’m ambitious at some point, but that doesn’t need to be now.
Everyone, all parties will know when the time is right. It’s up to myself to keep playing and keep focusing on what I am doing.”
One thing that annoys McGinn however is the constant comparison to Celtic captain Scott Brown.
He continued: “It’s something that bugs me a wee bit, getting compared to him. I feel as if we’re different. We’re good pals off the park and we’re different players. He has something different to me and I have something different to him. I just try to focus on my own game.
“I wasn’t directly against him I was trying to stop Olivier Ntcham and Tom Rogic playing. Thankfully as a three in there we managed to do that.
I don’t think it’s unfair to compare us. Obviously we are both hungry footballers, we work hard, we try to get in people’s faces but people forget that we can both play as well.
“Obviously for me it’s nice to be compared to someone who has had such an illustrious career but at the same time I want to make my own name and put my stamp on things.”
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.
