Back in buzzness
TODAY, PITTODRIE, 3PM
NIALL McGINN insists he has no regrets over his short-lived South Korean adventure but admits he missed Scottish football’s big-game atmosphere.
The Northern Ireland winger spent just four months at Gwangju but is adamant he made the right decision to try something different when he left Aberdeen in the summer.
However, he jumped at the chance to return on a three-and-a-half year Dons deal because he longed to play in big matches and compete for trophies again.
He said: “You miss the big games at Hampden and the excitement of the cups. In Korea you do have the big crowds but not like here.
“The atmosphere is nowhere near as intense as you get playing for Aberdeen against the likes of Celtic and Rangers.
“It is certainly different in that sense and you miss that even though I enjoyed my experience in South Korea.
“The culture was new to me but I really had a good time so there was never a moment when I thought I should be elsewhere.
“But playing in the big games in Scotland in front of large and enthusiastic crowds at Pittodrie every other week is something I did miss.”
McGinn’s time with Gwangju came to an abrupt end in July when a new manager took the reins of the relegated club and he was told he could leave.
He said: “Things didn’t work out as well as I would have liked. I joined in the middle of the season and was playing catch-up from there.
“We had a change of manager and got relegated but everything else was
Playing in big games in front of large crowds at Pittodrie is something I did miss NIALL McGINN
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great. It will stand me in good stead. I have no regrets whatsoever. It was something new and I’m more than happy I went out there.
“The culture and experience were very good and I really enjoyed it. I would have enjoyed it more if we’d stayed in the league and I played more football.”
McGinn will join his Aberdeen team-mates on their trip to a Dubai training camp next week as he builds his fitness following a hernia operation.
The winger admits the opportunity to work with Dons boss Derek McInnes sold him on a second stint with the club where he spent five of the happiest years of his career.
And he intends to force his way into the first team in the new year.
McGinn said: “I was delighted the