Speculation in January saw my form dip but I’m back to my best
SAYS JOHN McGINN
JOhN McGiNN admits he breathed a huge sigh of relief when the January transfer window closed after allowing constant speculation over his future to affect his performances for hibs.
The scotland international has been linked with a series of moves in recent times, with Celtic, Nottingham Forest, ipswich Town and Cardiff City all credited with interest in the midfielder.
The 23-year-old claims he was never going to leave Easter Road, having pledged to see out the current campaign in the capital before taking stock as he enters the final year of his contract at the club.
And, with certainty in his shortterm career now confirmed, the former st Mirren youngster believes his form can only go from strength to strength.
‘January was a strange month for me,’ said McGinn ahead of this afternoon’s Ladbrokes Premiership visit of Aberdeen.
‘i was asked three or four times about my future and each time i said i was happy here and that i would reassess things in the summer.
‘But that didn’t seem to stop the speculation. it kept coming and coming.
‘it’s something you say shouldn’t affect you but, subconsciously, it can. it affects your game.
‘so once the window closed, it was good to get that weight off my shoulders because i knew deep down i was staying here.
‘Obviously there were rumours going around. Now, hopefully, the speculation will stop — for a while! That will allow me to concentrate on my football.
‘Over the course of the season, i think i have played some of my best football in a hibs shirt. i had a slight dip but i feel i am getting back to my best and, hopefully, i can show that over the rest of the season.
‘Don’t get me wrong, i have ambitions down the line and i think everyone understands that.
‘But it would have to be the right thing at the right time for all parties.’
McGinn is adamant that he appreciates the role hibs have played — and continue to play — in improving his game and believes there should be no rush to leave that behind in favour of a move that could ‘stagnate’ his career.
European football, something he tasted briefly against Brondby two seasons ago, is very much his next target. Victory over the Dons would get Neil Lennon’s side firmly in the running for qualification alongside the visitors and third-placed Rangers.
hibs’ 2-1 win at ibrox with a depleted squad on their last outing a fortnight ago was another indication, along with two draws with Celtic and another triumph over Rangers earlier in the campaign, that they can live with the best in the league.
however, they have been beaten in each of their last three matches against Aberdeen and that is something McGinn is eager to change today.
‘Aberdeen are the only team we haven’t taken any points from this season,’ he said. ‘so we’re determined to show we can do that.
‘For us, it’s so important to beat the teams around us to try and hang on to them.
‘Our main aim was to get into the top six and we’re so close to that. Once we get there, we’ve no doubt we can go on and compete up there. But if we slip up against the teams around us, it will be difficult; we know we can’t do that.’
Like McGinn, Aberdeen’s scott McKenna knows he is likely to move on to pastures new one day, but the Dons defender is certain he will not join the plethora of players who have headed south only to return with their potential diminished.
having played just 20 first-team games for the Pittodrie side so far, he was not disappointed when Derek Mcinnes rejected four bids from hull City for his services in January.
Mcinnes has already predicted the scotland Under-21 cap will make the grade in England if he is patient and gains more experience in the Granite City, and it’s a theory that chimes with the ambitious McKenna.
‘in the long term, everyone is hopeful they’ll go down south and play in the Championship or Premier League but i want that to be when the time is right,’ said the 21-year-old.
‘i want to feel that, when i go down to a club, i’ll be ready to play in the first team, hopefully after 100 or 150 games at Aberdeen.
‘i don’t want to go down south and be someone that sits about as a squad player being left out of the starting line-up.
‘i’ve been sitting about here long enough, so i don’t want to be coming back up here after a couple of years when i’ve been forgotten about. hopefully, i can go down there and make a name for myself.
‘i’ve only played 20 games in the top team here, so i’m in no hurry to go anywhere. While it’s nice to know other clubs are interested, i just have to keep my feet on the ground.’
The more immediate task is to keep the challenge of Rangers and today’s hosts at bay in the battle to be crowned Best of the Rest behind Celtic.
‘if hibs win on saturday they will cut the gap to five points,’ added McKenna. ‘This team have been second for the last few years and the gaffer is determined to continue that, so hopefully i can be part of a team that delivers again this season.’